Analysis of a free oscillation atom interferometer

TL;DR

This paper analyzes a Bose-Einstein condensate-based free oscillation atom interferometer in a harmonic trap, deriving the fringe contrast expression and fundamental performance limits.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of a BEC-based free oscillation atom interferometer, including fringe contrast and performance bounds.

Findings

Derived an expression for interferometric fringe contrast.

Identified the fundamental performance limits of the interferometer.

Analyzed the effects of harmonic trapping on interferometer operation.

Abstract

We analyze a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) - based free oscillation atom Michelson interferometer in a weakly confining harmonic magnetic trap. A BEC at the center of the trap is split into two harmonics by a laser standing wave. The harmonics move in opposite directions with equal speeds and turn back under the influence of the trapping potential at their classical turning points. The harmonics are allowed to pass through each other and a recombination pulse is applied when they overlap at the end of a cycle after they return for the second time. We derive an expression for the contrast of the interferometric fringes and obtain the fundamental limit of performance of the interferometer in the parameter space.