Optically guided atom interferometer tuned to magic wavelength

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel atom interferometer using a magic wavelength optical guide with canceled light shifts, enabling precise measurements on the $^{87}$Sr clock transition for advanced quantum sensing applications.

Contribution

The authors develop and demonstrate a magic wavelength optical guide for atom interferometry on the $^{87}$Sr clock transition, reducing light shift perturbations and expanding potential applications.

Findings

Successfully operated a Mach-Zehnder interferometer on the clock transition.

Achieved cancellation of light shift perturbations in the optical guide.

Discussed potential applications including fiber-based interferometers.

Abstract

We demonstrate an atom interferometer operating on the $^1S_0-{}^3P_0$ clock transition of $^{87}$Sr atoms in a "magic" optical guide, where the light shift perturbations of the guiding potential are canceled. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is set horizontally to map the acceleration introduced by the focused optical guide. This magic guide interferometer on the clock transition is applicable to atomic elements where magic wavelengths can be found. Possible applications of the magic guide interferometer, including a hollow-core fiber interferometer and gradiometer, are discussed.