Studies in atom and molecule manipulation

该项目是用于精密测量的精密原子干涉仪发展的延续。H/M的测定，即普朗克常数除以干涉仪中原子的质量，将比目前的精度提高大约一个数量级。这将导致精细结构常数α的测定，其不确定度为十亿分之零点五。此外，还将研究光学晶格中玻色凝聚原子的许多粒子现象。具体地说，提出了在光学晶格中低占有率Mott态中产生非零角动量态的方法。这些状态的特征将是当原子从晶格限制中释放时对中心原子干扰峰的抑制。更广泛的影响包括未来教授的教育，干涉仪在惯性传感中的应用，以及推广计划。

This project is a continuation of the development of accurate atom interferometers for precision measurements. The determination of h/M, Planck's constant divided by the mass of the atom in the interferometer, will be improved by approximately one order of magnitude from its current accuracy. This will lead to a determination of the fine structure constant alpha with an uncertainty of ~ 0.5 parts per billion. In addition, many particle phenomena of Bose condensed atoms in optical lattices will be studied. Specifically, the creation of non-zero angular momentum states in low occupancy Mott states in an optical lattice is proposed. A signature of these states would be a suppression of the central atomic interference peak upon release of the atoms from the lattice confinement. The broader impact involves the education of future professors, the application of the interferometers to inertial sensing and programs in outreach.