A thermal beam calcium matter-wave interferometer

We report on progress toward a calcium-beam atom interferometer. The design uses a novel alignment scheme using precision prisms which will cause first-order Doppler shifts to cancel out to high accuracy. The device will utilize a thermal beam of atoms for simplicity and high signals. The atom waves will be split and recombined using a single-photon transition at a wavelength of 657 nm. We are currently working to improve the linewidth of the 657 nm laser and constructing a 423 nm blue laser to transversely cool the atoms and to detect the output of the interferometer. We are also characterizing a thermal Ca beam using laser absorption and working on precise control of the temperature and flux of the beam.