Interferometric Quantum Scattering in a Juggling Atomic Clock

杂耍原子钟中的干涉量子散射

• 批准号: 0800233
• 负责人: Kurt Gibble
• 金额: $ 32.73万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0800233&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Interferometric; Quantum; Scattering; Juggling; Atomic

This experimental research program will precisely study quantum scattering of ultracold cesium atoms in an atomic clock that juggles clouds of atoms. The group has recently demonstrated a fundamentally new type of scattering experiment in which a cesium atom, prepared in a superposition two states, scatters off of atoms in another cloud launched in the atomic clock. Each state of the superposition experiences a scattering phase shift, a measure of the strength of the interaction between the atoms. By detecting only the scattered part of each atom's wave function, the difference of the scattering phase shifts is directly observed as a frequency shift of the clock. A unique feature of this technique is that the frequency shift is independent of the atomic density. The technique allows scattering measurements with atomic-clock-like accuracy. Measurements of atomic scattering lengths with unprecedented accuracy are expected. They will precisely study the scattering of the different ground-substates of cesium atoms as a function of collision energy and magnetic field to unambiguously constrain ultracold cesium-cesium interactions. They will measure threshold effects and try to identify Feshbach and shape resonances. They can also probe the frequency shifts due to juggling collisions, important for improving the stability of future clocks. Highly precise measurements of scattering phase shifts near a narrow Feshbach resonance may stringently constrain the time variation of fundamental constants, such as the electron-proton mass ratio.Broader impacts of this program include the training of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in many areas of modern technology from lasers, electro-optics, radio-frequency and microwave techniques, ultra-high vacuum, and atomic clocks and frequency control. This group has significantly contributed to the development of atomic clocks, including laser-cooled rubidium clocks, space clock design, juggling atomic fountains, ultra-stable lasers for optical frequency clocks, and studies of microwave cavities and cold collisions. The proposed research will lead to higher accuracy and stability of the cesium clocks that realize the definition of the SI second. The work will impact the understanding of ultracold atom-atom interactions with a breakthrough in clarity and precision.

该实验研究计划将精确地研究原子时钟的超电原子原子的量子散射，该原子会扰乱原子的云。该小组最近展示了一种从根本上说明的散射实验，其中在两个状态下制备的剖宫产原子在原子钟以另一个云中的原子散射出来。叠加的每个状态都会出现散射相移，这是原子之间相互作用强度的度量。 通过仅检测每个原子波函数的散射部分，直接观察到散射相移的差异是时钟的频移。该技术的一个独特特征是频移独立于原子密度。该技术允许使用原子锁定的精度进行散射测量。预计原子散射长度具有前所未有的精度。他们将精确研究剖腹原子的不同地面物质的散射，这是碰撞能量和磁场的函数，以明确限制超低的宫颈相互作用。他们将测量阈值效应，并尝试识别feshbach并形成共振。他们还可以探测由于碰撞碰撞而引起的频移，这对于提高未来时钟的稳定性很重要。 在狭窄的Feshbach共振附近的散射相移的高度精确的测量可能严格限制基本常数的时间变化，例如电子 - 普罗顿质量比率。来自激光器，电镜，射频和微波技术，超高真空和原子钟和频率控制的技术。该小组为原子钟的发展做出了重大贡献，包括激光冷却的rubidium时钟，太空时钟设计，杂耍原子喷泉，用于光学频率时钟的超稳定激光器以及微波腔和冷碰撞的研究。拟议的研究将导致更高的精度和稳定性的核钟，从而实现SI秒的定义。这项工作将影响对超低原子 - 原子相互作用的理解，并在清晰和精确度上突破。