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Transverse mode imaging of guided matter waves

R. G. Dall, S. S. Hodgman, M. T. Johnsson, K. G. H. Baldwin, and A. G. Truscott
Phys. Rev. A 81, 011602(R) – Published 7 January 2010

Abstract

Ultracold atoms whose de Broglie wavelength is of the same order as an extended confining potential can experience waveguiding along the potential. When the transverse kinetic energy of the atoms is sufficiently low, they can be guided in the lowest order mode of the confining potential by analogy with light guided by a single mode optical fiber. We have obtained the first images of the transverse mode structure of guided matter waves in a confining potential with up to 65% of atoms in the lowest order mode. The coherence of the guided atomic de Broglie waves is demonstrated by the diffraction pattern produced when incident upon a two dimensional periodic structure. Such coherent waveguides will be important atom optic components in devices with applications such as atom holography and atom interferometry.

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  • Received 1 May 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.81.011602

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

R. G. Dall, S. S. Hodgman, M. T. Johnsson, K. G. H. Baldwin, and A. G. Truscott*

  • ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics and Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

  • *andrew.truscott@anu.edu.au

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Vol. 81, Iss. 1 — January 2010

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