Optically guided BEC interferometry with a single wavelength

Precision sensing with Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) has been achieved in macroscopic interferometers with underlying large-scale enclosed space-time areas. As an alternative approach, trapped atom systems offer the opportunity for BEC sensors in more compact packages. This requires an optical guide, crossed beams, and beam splitters usually operated at different wavelengths.

We report on an optically guided BEC interferometer operated with a single wavelength. To this end, atoms are first Bose condensed and delta-kick collimated using the magnetic potentials supplied by an atom chip. A single far-detuned focused beam in a linear retroreflector configuration then provides both the tools to levitate as well as symmetrically split and recombine the matter-wave packets to form a guided Mach-Zehnder-type atom interferometer.