CM-AMO Seminar | Interchanging the Roles of Light and Matter

Speaker: A. Kumarakrishnan (York University)

Atom interferometers that use pulses of light for coherent control of matter-wave interference can be used for wide ranging studies of light-matter interactions and for realizing precision measurements in atomic physics. We describe an echo type interferometer that utilizes a relatively simple setup to manipulate laser-cooled Rb atoms in a single ground state manifold. We review progress toward a precision measurement of the atomic fine structure constant using two distinct techniques. If time permits, the status of related experiments that measure gravitational acceleration and magnetic interactions will be discussed.

*Work supported by CFI, OIT, OCE, NSERC and York University