Determination of the fine structure constant with atomic interferometry and Bloch oscillations.

ORAL

Abstract

We report a new measurement of the recoil of $^{87}$Rb atoms using atomic interferometry and Bloch oscillations of ultracold atoms in an accelerated lattice. For the first time, we combine the high efficiency of Bloch oscillations with the sensitivity of Ramsey-Bord\'e interferometer. Our measurement with a statistical uncertainty of 3.4~ppb combined with a careful study of systematic effects (3.3~ppb) leads to a value of the fine-structure constant with an uncertainty below 5~ppb.

Authors

  • Pierre Clad\'e

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • Malo Cadoret

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
  • Estefania de Mirandes

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
  • Saida Guellati-Kh\'elifa

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
  • Catherine Schwob

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
  • Fran\c{c}ois Nez

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
  • Lucile Julien

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS
  • Fran\c{c}ois Biraben

    • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - CNRS