Coherent Frequency Shift of Atomic Matter Waves

Correlations in high-harmonic generation of matter-wave jets revealed by pattern recognition

Correlations in interacting many-body systems are key to the study of quantum matter. The complexity of the correlations typically grows quickly as the system evolves and thus presents a challenge for experimental characterization and intuitive understanding. In a strongly driven Bose-Einstein condensate, we observe the high-harmonic generation of matter-wave jets with complex correlations as a result of bosonic stimulation. Based on a pattern recognition scheme, we identify a pattern of correlations that reveals the underlying secondary scattering processes and higher-order correlations. We show that pattern recognition offers a versatile strategy to visualize and analyze the quantum dynamics of a many-body system.

Oscillations in the mean transition time of a particle scattered on a double slit potential

Scattering through a double slit potential is one of the most fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. It is well understood that due to the superposition of amplitudes, one observes a spatial interference pattern in the scattered wavefunction reflecting the superposition of amplitudes coming from both slits. However, the effect of the double slit on the mean time it takes to traverse the slit has not been considered previously. Using a transition path time formalism, we show that when a single Gaussian wavepacket is scattered through a double slit potential, one finds not only oscillations in the scattered density resulting from the spatial interference created by the splitting of the wavepacket but also an oscillatory pattern in the mean scattering time. Long times are associated with low values of a suitably defined momentum, and short times with higher values. The double slit thus serves as a momentum filtering device. We also find an interference pattern in the time averaged momentum weak value profile of the scattered particle implying that the double slit also acts as a weak momentum filter. These results not only demonstrate the value of considering transition path time distributions in their quantum mechanical context but also present a challenge to semiclassical approximations-can they account for temporal interference?

Observation of Atom-Wave Beats Using a Kerr Modulator for Atom Waves

A phase modulation puts the atom in a coherent superposition of quantum states with different kinetic energies. We have detected the interference of such modulated waves at the output of our atom interferometer, and we have observed beats at the difference of the modulation frequencies and its harmonics, in good agreement with theory. The phase modulations were produced by a Kerr phase modulator, i.e., by the propagation of the atom wave in a time-dependent electric field. An extension of this technique to electron interferometry should open the way to very high temporal resolution in electron microscopy.