A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy
Motivated by a recent claim by Müller et al (2010 Nature 463 926–9) that an atom interferometer can serve as an atom clock to measure the gravitational redshift with an unprecedented accuracy, we provide a representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer based on operator algebra....
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2013-01-01
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| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/1/013007 |
| _version_ | 1797751762671632384 |
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| author | Wolfgang P Schleich Daniel M Greenberger Ernst M Rasel |
| author_facet | Wolfgang P Schleich Daniel M Greenberger Ernst M Rasel |
| author_sort | Wolfgang P Schleich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Motivated by a recent claim by Müller et al (2010 Nature 463 926–9) that an atom interferometer can serve as an atom clock to measure the gravitational redshift with an unprecedented accuracy, we provide a representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer based on operator algebra. We use this framework to show that the operator product determining the number of atoms at the exit ports of the interferometer is a c -number phase factor whose phase is the sum of only two phases: one is due to the acceleration of the phases of the laser pulses and the other one is due to the acceleration of the atom. This formulation brings out most clearly that this interferometer is an accelerometer or a gravimeter. Moreover, we point out that in different representations of quantum mechanics such as the position or the momentum representation the phase shift appears as though it originates from different physical phenomena. Due to this representation dependence conclusions concerning an enhanced accuracy derived in a specific representation are unfounded. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:53:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-15b5fa8435c741d586a847494de128fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:53:16Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-15b5fa8435c741d586a847494de128fa2023-08-08T11:02:46ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302013-01-0115101300710.1088/1367-2630/15/1/013007A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversyWolfgang P Schleich0Daniel M Greenberger1Ernst M Rasel2Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST) , Universität Ulm, Albert Einstein Allee 11, D-89069 Ulm, GermanyCity College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USAInstitut für Quantenoptik , Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, D-30167 Hannover, GermanyMotivated by a recent claim by Müller et al (2010 Nature 463 926–9) that an atom interferometer can serve as an atom clock to measure the gravitational redshift with an unprecedented accuracy, we provide a representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer based on operator algebra. We use this framework to show that the operator product determining the number of atoms at the exit ports of the interferometer is a c -number phase factor whose phase is the sum of only two phases: one is due to the acceleration of the phases of the laser pulses and the other one is due to the acceleration of the atom. This formulation brings out most clearly that this interferometer is an accelerometer or a gravimeter. Moreover, we point out that in different representations of quantum mechanics such as the position or the momentum representation the phase shift appears as though it originates from different physical phenomena. Due to this representation dependence conclusions concerning an enhanced accuracy derived in a specific representation are unfounded.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/1/013007 |
| spellingShingle | Wolfgang P Schleich Daniel M Greenberger Ernst M Rasel A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy New Journal of Physics |
| title | A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy |
| title_full | A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy |
| title_fullStr | A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy |
| title_full_unstemmed | A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy |
| title_short | A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy |
| title_sort | representation free description of the kasevich chu interferometer a resolution of the redshift controversy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/1/013007 |
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