Structured quantum projectiles

Hugo Larocque, Robert Fickler, Eliahu Cohen, Vincenzo Grillo, Rafal E. Dunin-Borkowski, Gerd Leuchs, Ebrahim Karimi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Matter wave interferometry is becoming an increasingly important technique in quantum metrology. However, unlike its photonic counterpart, this technique relies on the interference of particles possessing a nonzero rest mass and an electric charge. Matter waves can therefore experience alterations in their wavelike features while propagating through uniform fields to which a linear potential can be attributed, e.g., the Newtonian gravitational potential. Here, we derive the propagation kernel attributed to matter waves within such a potential. This kernel thereafter allows us to provide analytical formulations for structured matter waves subjected to a linear potential. Our formulations are in agreement with both the classical dynamics attributed to such waves and with previous interferometry experiments. Eigenbasis representations of structured matter waves are also introduced along with their application to enhanced interferometric measurements. Our results are not only relevant to matter wave interferometry, but also emphasize its fundamental differences with respect to photonic interferometry.

Original languageEnglish
Article number023628
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume99
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Feb 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Physical Society.

Funding

This work was supported by Ontario's Early Researcher Award (ERA), Canada Research Chairs (CRC), and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (Q-SORT), Grant No. 766970. R.F. acknowledges financial support of a Banting postdoctoral fellowship of the NSERC.

FundersFunder number
European Union's Horizon 2020
R.F.
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme766970
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Canada Research ChairsCRC

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