High-Precision Measurements with a Yb Bose-Einstein Condensate Interferometer
ORAL
Abstract
We report high-precision results from a matter-wave interferometer using a Yb Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) as a source. This contrast interferometer measures h/m, where h is Planck's constant and m is the mass of a ytterbium atom, which is used to determine the fine structure constant. In addition to a high-precision measurement of h/m, we report ongoing work for measuring and controlling the effects of atomic interactions on the results. Interaction effects have limited the accuracy of previous BEC interferometers. With our current level of control we achieve the highest accuracy to date with a BEC matter-wave interferometer.
*This work was supported by grants from the NSF and NIST.
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