We have constructed an atom interferometer of the Mach–Zehnder type, operating with a supersonic beam of lithium. Atom diffraction uses Bragg diffraction on laser standing waves. With first-order diffraction, our apparatus has given a large signal and a very good fringe contrast (74%), which we believe to be the highest ever observed with thermal atom interferometers. This apparatus will be applied to high-sensitivity measurements.
DOI:10.1007/s003400200840
Voir en ligne : Appl. Phys. B. 74, 489-493 (2002)