Atomic Raman scattering: Third-order diffraction in a double geometry

TL;DR

This paper investigates third-order atomic Raman diffraction in a double geometry, demonstrating its potential for efficient large momentum transfer in ultracold atom interferometry, with advantages over sequential first-order processes.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of third-order Raman diffraction in a double geometry, highlighting its advantages for simplifying experiments and reducing duration.

Findings

Third-order diffraction enables efficient large momentum transfer.

Compared to sequential pulses, third-order diffraction reduces experimental complexity.

Theoretical comparison shows third-order diffraction as a competitive tool for atom interferometry.

Abstract

In a retroreflective scheme atomic Raman diffraction adopts some of the properties of Bragg diffraction due to additional couplings to off-resonant momenta. As a consequence, double Raman diffraction has to be performed in a Bragg-type regime. Taking advantage of this regime, double Raman allows for resonant higher-order diffraction. We study theoretically the case of third-order diffraction and compare it to first order as well as a sequence of first-order pulses giving rise to the same momentum transfer as the third-order pulse. In fact, third-order diffraction constitutes a competitive tool for the diffraction of ultracold atoms and interferometry based on large momentum transfer since it allows to reduce the complexity of the experiment as well as the total duration of the diffraction process compared to a sequence.