Gyroscopic effects in interference of matter waves

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel gyroscopic interference effect in matter waves caused by the Galilean translational factor, resulting in slanted fringes, demonstrated through calculations on split Bose-Einstein condensates, offering a simpler measurement method.

Contribution

It identifies and explains a new gyroscopic interference effect in matter waves that causes fringe slanting, distinct from the traditional Sagnac effect, and demonstrates its application in BEC experiments.

Findings

The effect causes observable fringe slanting in matter wave interference.

Measurement of slanting does not require a third reference cloud.

The effect is demonstrated with calculations on split Bose-Einstein condensates.

Abstract

A new gyroscopic interference effect stemming from the Galilean translational factor in the matter wave function is pointed out. In contrast to the well-known Sagnac effect that stems from the geometric phase and leads to a shift of interference fringes, this effect causes slanting of the fringes. We illustrate it by calculations for two split cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates under the conditions of a recent experiment, see Y.Shin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 050405 (2004). Importantly, the measurement of slanting obviates the need of a third reference cloud.