Quantum statistical measurements of an atom laser beam

TL;DR

The paper proposes a method to measure the quantum phase-sensitive quadrature statistics of an atom laser beam by transferring atomic field statistics to an optical field for measurement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scheme analogous to a reversed Raman output coupler for quantum measurement of atom lasers.

Findings

Enables transfer of atomic statistics to optical field

Allows quantum statistics measurement using optical homodyne detection

Provides a new approach for atom laser quantum state analysis

Abstract

We describe a scheme, operating in a manner analogous to a reversed Raman output coupler, for measuring the phase-sensitive quadrature statistics of an atom laser beam. This scheme allows for the transferral of the atomic field statistics to an optical field, for which the quantum statistics may then be measured using the well-developed technology of optical homodyne measurement.