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Atom optics: Old ideas, current technology, and new results
Author(s) -
Pritchard D.E.,
Cronin A.D.,
Gupta S.,
Kokorowski D.A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
annalen der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1521-3889
pISSN - 0003-3804
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3889(200102)10:1/2<35::aid-andp35>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - physics , quantum optics , atom optics , matter wave , quantum decoherence , atom (system on chip) , physical optics , atom laser , quantum mechanics , atom interferometer , current (fluid) , quantum , bose–einstein condensate , computer science , interferometry , astronomical interferometer , thermodynamics , embedded system
Atom optics is the coherent manipulation of the atomic matter waves originally postulated by the developers of quantum mechanics. These pioneers also proposed the use of stimulated light forces to manipulate particles. These ideas have been combined with current technology to produce the field of atom optics. This, in turn, has shed new light on old quantum problems like the which way problem and the origins of quantum decoherence. Bose Einstein condensates combine naturally with atom optics to produce new results such as the coherent amplification of matter waves. This review of atom optics traces these connections.