Beyond the semiclassical approximation in atom interferometry

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: LaRow, W., Edwards, M., Sackett, C. A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author LaRow, W.
Edwards, M.
Sackett, C. A.
author_facet LaRow, W.
Edwards, M.
Sackett, C. A.
contents We describe a quantum perturbative approach to evaluating the phase shift of an atom interferometer in a weakly anharmonic trap. This provides a simple way to evaluate quantum corrections to the standard semi-classical approximation. The calculation benefits from the use of generalized coherent states for a basis. We find that the form of the semi-classical approximation remains valid to first order in the anharmonic perturbation, but that phase differences arise because the trajectory of a quantum wave packet will generally deviate from that of a classical particle. The quantum correction to the phase is a factor $\ell^2/A^2$ smaller than the semi-classical perturbation itself, where $\ell$ is the quantum harmonic oscillator length scale and $A$ is the classical amplitude of the motion. We provide analytical results for one-dimensional perturbations of power three through six in the position coordinate.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2410_08040
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Beyond the semiclassical approximation in atom interferometry
LaRow, W.
Edwards, M.
Sackett, C. A.
Quantum Physics
Atomic Physics
We describe a quantum perturbative approach to evaluating the phase shift of an atom interferometer in a weakly anharmonic trap. This provides a simple way to evaluate quantum corrections to the standard semi-classical approximation. The calculation benefits from the use of generalized coherent states for a basis. We find that the form of the semi-classical approximation remains valid to first order in the anharmonic perturbation, but that phase differences arise because the trajectory of a quantum wave packet will generally deviate from that of a classical particle. The quantum correction to the phase is a factor $\ell^2/A^2$ smaller than the semi-classical perturbation itself, where $\ell$ is the quantum harmonic oscillator length scale and $A$ is the classical amplitude of the motion. We provide analytical results for one-dimensional perturbations of power three through six in the position coordinate.
title Beyond the semiclassical approximation in atom interferometry
topic Quantum Physics
Atomic Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.08040