Otto Stern’s Legacy in Quantum Optics: Matter Waves and Deflectometry

Author(s)
Stefan Gerlich, Yaakov Y. Fein, Armin Shayeghi, Valentin Köhler, Marcel Mayor, Markus Arndt
Abstract

Otto Stern became famous for molecular beam physics, matter-wave research and the discovery of the electron spin, with his work guiding several generations of physicists and chemists. Here we discuss how his legacy has inspired the realization of universal interferometers, which prepare matter waves from atomic, molecular, cluster or eventually nanoparticle beams. Such universal interferometers have proven to be sensitive tools for quantum-assisted force measurements, building on Stern’s pioneering work on electric and magnetic deflectometry. The controlled shift and dephasing of interference fringes by external electric, magnetic or optical fields have been used to determine internal properties of a vast class of particles in a unified experimental framework.

Organisation(s)
Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information
External organisation(s)
Universität Basel
Volume
1
Pages
547-573
No. of pages
27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63963-1_24
Publication date
06-2021
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103026 Quantum optics, 103021 Optics, 103008 Experimental physics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Physics and Astronomy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/437f807d-fa62-44b9-9880-808b08221366