ATOM INTERFEROMETRY WITH POLARIZING BEAM-SPLITTERS

A special kind of atomic beam splitter using a four-level atomic syste m in combination with polarized light fields is demonstrated. These sp ecific atom optical elements are used to operate an atom interferomete r where the beam-splitting mechanism acts selectively on specific path s only and therefore allows for several different interferometer geome tries. Based on a Ramsey-Borde configuration, the experimental data sh ow considerably better accuracy and a contrast enhanced by 65% compare d to the two-level interferometer. Our concept appears to be especiall y interesting in the context of metrological aspects in matter-wave in terferometry.