abstract

• The laser beam waist has an impact both in the sensitivity and systematic effects present in gravimetry and atom interferometry in general. In this paper we consider how different effects contribute to both aspects in order to make a better selection of the radius of the Raman beam given a particular laser power available. A large beam waist reduces systematic effects coming from wavefront curvature and Gouy phase contributions and improves the fringe contrast due to reduced intensity gradients. On the other hand, a large waist gives a smaller Rabi frequency, which lowers the sensitivity by reducing the fraction of atoms in the selected velocity range. Considering all contributions, we find that systematic effects usually have a dominant role in selecting a beam waist. © 2021 Optical Society of America.

authors

• Franco Villafañe John Alexander
• Gómez García Eduardo
• Valenzuela V.M.

publication date

• 2021-01-01

published in

• OSA Continuum  Journal

keywords

• Atom lasers; Atoms; Gravimeters; Interferometry; Laser beams; Atom interferometry; Different effects; Fringe contrasts; Intensity gradients; Rabi frequency; Systematic effects; Velocity range; Wave-front curvature; Laser beam effects

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1364/OSAC.414110

PubMed ID

start page

• 1996

end page

• 2007

volume

• 4

issue

• 7