Competition between Spin Echo and Spin Self-Rephasing in a Trapped Atom Interferometer

C. Solaro, A. Bonnin, F. Combes, M. Lopez, X. Alauze, J.-N. Fuchs, F. Piéchon, and F. Pereira Dos Santos
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 163003 – Published 14 October 2016
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Abstract

We perform Ramsey interferometry on an ultracold Rb87 ensemble confined in an optical dipole trap. We use a π pulse set at the middle of the interferometer to restore the coherence of the spin ensemble by canceling out phase inhomogeneities and creating a spin echo in the contrast. However, for high atomic densities, we observe the opposite behavior: the π pulse accelerates the dephasing of the spin ensemble leading to a faster contrast decay of the interferometer. We understand this phenomenon as a competition between the spin-echo technique and an exchange-interaction driven spin self-rephasing mechanism based on the identical spin rotation effect. Our experimental data are well reproduced by a numerical model.

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  • Received 31 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.163003

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

C. Solaro1, A. Bonnin1, F. Combes2, M. Lopez1, X. Alauze1, J.-N. Fuchs2,3, F. Piéchon2, and F. Pereira Dos Santos1,*

  • 1SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, LNE, 61 Avenue de l’Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France
  • 2Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, CNRS UMR 8502, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France
  • 3Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée, CNRS UMR 7600, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France

  • *franck.pereira@obspm.fr

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 16 — 14 October 2016

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