Observation of Interference Between Two Bose Condensates

Abstract

Interference between two freely expanding Bose-Einstein condensates has been observed. Two condensates separated by ∼40 micrometers were created by evaporatively cooling sodium atoms in a double-well potential formed by magnetic and optical forces. High-contrast matter-wave interference fringes with a period of ∼15 micrometers were observed after switching off the potential and letting the condensates expand for 40 milliseconds and overlap. This demonstrates that Bose condensed atoms are “laser-like”; that is, they are coherent and show long-range correlations. These results have direct implications for the atom laser and the Josephson effect for atoms.

Keywords

Interference (communication)Bose–Einstein condensatePhysicsLaserMatter waveRange (aeronautics)Atom (system on chip)Atomic physicsEnergetic neutral atomCondensed matter physicsOpticsMaterials scienceQuantum mechanicsQuantumIon

Affiliated Institutions

Massachusetts Institute of Technology US

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Publication Info

Year: 1997
Type: article
Volume: 275
Issue: 5300
Pages: 637-641
Citations: 1562
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    M. R. Andrews, 
                                
                                    C. G. Townsend, 
                                
                                    H.‐J. Miesner
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (1997). 
                            Observation of Interference Between Two Bose Condensates. 
                            Science
                            , 275
                            (5300)
                            , 637-641.
                            https://doi.org/10.1126/science.275.5300.637
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1126/science.275.5300.637