Non-local double-path Casimir phase in atom interferometers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel non-local double-path phase coherence in atom interferometers caused by the quantized electromagnetic field, revealing new quantum effects in matter-wave propagation.

Contribution

It develops a quantum open system theory showing how non-local phases emerge from electromagnetic and atomic field fluctuations in atom interferometers.

Findings

Identification of a non-local double-path phase coherence.

Diagrammatic interpretation of the non-local phase.

Estimation of the phase for realistic experimental setups.

Abstract

We present a quantum open system theory of atom interferometers evolving in the quantized electromagnetic field bounded by an ideal conductor. Our treatment reveals an unprecedented feature of matter-wave propagation, namely the appearance of a non-local double-path phase coherence. Such a non-local phase arises from the coarse-graining over the quantized electromagnetic field and internal atomic degrees of freedom, yielding a non-Hamiltonian evolution of the atomic waves moving in presence of correlated quantum dipole and field fluctuations. We develop a diagrammatic interpretation of this phase, and estimate it for realistic experimental parameters.