Stern Gerlach interferometry with metastable argon atoms: an immaterial mask modulating the profile of a supersonic beam

J. C. Karam; M. Boustimi; F. Perales; C. Mainos; J. Reinhardt; J. Baudon; V. Bocvarski; D. Grancharova; T. Durt; H. Haberland; J. Robert

doi:10.1140/epjd/e2003-00023-y

2022 Impact factor 1.8

Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics

Eur. Phys. J. D 23, 25-34 (2003)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2003-00023-y

Stern Gerlach interferometry with metastable argon atoms: an immaterial mask modulating the profile of a supersonic beam

B. Viaris de Lesegno¹, J. C. Karam², M. Boustimi³, F. Perales²^a, C. Mainos², J. Reinhardt², J. Baudon², V. Bocvarski⁴, D. Grancharova², F. Pereira Dos Santos⁵, T. Durt²^,6, H. Haberland⁷ and J. Robert²

¹ LCAR-IRSAMC, Université Toulouse 3, Bâtiment 3R1 B4, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex, France
² Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (UMR 7538 du CNRS) , Université Paris 13, avenue J.B. Clément, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
³ Laboratoire d'Optronique, ENSSAT, 6 rue de Kérampon, B.P. 447, 22305 Lannion Cedex, France
⁴ Institute of Physics, Pregrevica 118, P.O. Box 68, 11080 Zemun, Yugoslavia
⁵ Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel, 24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
⁶ TENA-TONA, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
⁷ Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a perales@lpl.univ-paris13.fr

Received: 27 June 2002
Revised: 20 September 2002
Published online: 4 February 2003

Abstract

A new Stern Gerlach interferometer operating with a nozzle beam of metastable argon atoms Ar^* ( 4s, ) is described. The selection of incoming (polarisation) and outgoing (analysis) Zeeman sublevels is achieved by use of laser induced transitions at two wavelengths, 811.5 nm (closed transition) and 801.5 nm (open transition). Linear superpositions of Zeeman sublevels, just beyond the polariser and just before the analyser, are prepared by means of two zones where Majorana transitions take place. In between, a controlled magnetic field configuration (the phase object) is produced within a triple μ-metal shielding. Standard interference patterns are obtained by scanning the field and detecting the atoms by secondary electron emission from a Faraday cup. When a static radial magnetic gradient is used, the beam profile is modulated by interference. The transverse pattern, which can be translated at will by adding a homogeneous field, is observed for the first time using a multi-channel electron multiplier followed by a phosphor screen and a CCD camera. The results satisfactorily agree with all theoretical predictions. 39.25.+k Atom manipulation (scanning probe microscopy, laser cooling, etc.)