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

Related Publications

The semiclassical theory of laser cooling

This paper reviews the basic theory of the mechanical action of light in resonant interaction with atoms. At present the main application is laser cooling, but the approach is a...

1986 Reviews of Modern Physics 606 citations

Publication Info

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

External Links

Social Impact

Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions

Citation Metrics

1562
OpenAlex

Cite This

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