Coherence of bose condensates

• Published in: Journal of modern optics Vol. 44; no. 10; pp. 1751 - 1762
• Main Authors: Wallis, H., Röhrl, A., Naraschewski, M., Schenzle, A., Miesner, H. J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01-10-1997; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Optics; Physics; Quantum optics; Beam splitting; Atomic beams; Magnetic traps; Magnetic resonance; Quantum optics; Gross Pitaevskii equation; Laser beams; Bose-Einstein condensation
• ISSN: 0950-0340; 1362-3044
• DOI: 10.1080/09500349708231844

We study the coherence of interacting Bose condensates in recent magnetic trap experiments. The coherent evolution manifests itself in the macroscopic interference of two independent Bose condensates. The theoretical predictions from the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation are in excellent agreement with the measured interference patterns. A coherent coupling of two condensates represents the atomic analogon of a Josephson junction. The dependence of the magnetic confinement on the nuclear spin orientation allows one to build a controllable beam splitter by magnetic resonance. The application of this beam splitter to realize an atom laser is studied theoretically. The coherence of the output beam is limited only by phase diffusion of the condensate.