Abstract
Using the unique detection properties offered by metastable helium atoms we have produced high resolution images of the transverse spatial profiles of an atom laser beam. We observe transverse fringes on the beam, resulting from quantum mechanical interference between atoms that start from rest at different transverse locations within the outcoupling surface and end up at a later time with different velocities at the same transverse position. Further, for high outcoupling rates we see the emergence of structure on the beam profile, which is not predicted by the usual Gross-Pitaevskii equation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-1 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | Optics InfoBase Conference Papers |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |