Atom Interferometry in a Warm Vapor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates matterwave interference in warm rubidium vapor without laser cooling by exploiting Doppler selectivity, enabling multiple simultaneous measurements of acceleration using different velocity classes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel warm vapor atom interferometry technique that avoids laser cooling and allows multiple concurrent measurements.

Findings

Interference signals obtained without laser cooling.

Multiple velocity classes can be addressed simultaneously.

Potential for acceleration measurement in warm vapor environments.

Abstract

We demonstrate matterwave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms. Established approaches to light pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse. In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling. This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance. This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.