We demonstrate light-pulse atom interferometry with large-momentum-transfer atom optics based on stimulated Raman transitions and frequency-swept adiabatic rapid passage. Our atom optics have produced momentum splittings of up to 30 photon recoil momenta in an acceleration-sensitive interferometer for laser cooled atoms. We experimentally verify the enhancement of phase shift per unit accelerat...

DESIGN OF A FREQUENCY-DOUBLED 423 nm LASER FOR USE IN A CALCIUM INTERFEROMETER Jeremiah Birrell Department of Physics and Astronomy Bachelor of Science In this thesis I determine the optimal parameters for maximizing second harmonic generation of 423 nm light for use in an atom interferometer. The analysis is done using the nonlinear crystal Beta Barium Borate. Both critical and noncritical pha...

We present a method by which the effect of laser field variations on the signal output of an interferometric gravitational wave detector is rigorously determined. Using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) optical configuration of a power recycled Michelson interferometer with Fabry-Perot arm cavities as an example, we calculate the excess noise after the input filter ...

We report the use of a highly sensitive phase based motion measurement technique to study the correlation of cellular metabolic rate with cellular motions. The technique is based on a modified Michelson interferometer with a composite laser beam of 1550 nm low coherence light and 775 nm CW light. In this system, motional artifacts from vibrations in the interferometer are completely eliminated....

Low-coherence self-referencing velocimetry optically measures the relative velocity between a point in a particle-laden fluid and a (potentially moving) reference surface. Low-coherence light scattered off the particles and off the reference surface is coupled into an interferometer with variable optical delay in one arm and an acousto-optical modulator in the second arm. The measurement locati...

We describe a novel pump-probe optical method, based on a Sagnac (anti-resonant ring) interferometer, which removes over 99% of the DC background light inherent in normal, two beam pump-probe measurements. Suppression of the DC component is critical for pumpprobe imaging applications. In addition, this method greatly increases the signal-to-noise ratio compared with normal, two beam pump-probe ...

A new method and apparatus for measuring the group delay in optical components and laser cavities are described. Cross-correlational fringes are fully recorded with a Michelson interferometer, in one of whose arms the optics to be measured are inserted. The path difference of the interferometer is calibrated to subwavelength accuracy, and the group delay is calculated from the phase of the Four...

Twin-Signal-Recycling (TSR) builds on the resonance doublet of two optically coupled cavities and efficiently enhances the sensitivity of an interferometer at a dedicated signal frequency. We report on what we believe to be the first experimental realization of a TSR Michelson interferometer and also its broadband enhancement by squeezed light injection. The complete setup was stably locked, an...

We have observed wave and particle characteristics of light in two distinct experiments. In the first case, a strongly attenuated HeNe laser was passed through a Mach-Zender interferometer. The two legs of the interferometer were given definite, mutually perpendicular polarization to provide which-way information. The resulting interference pattern was captured using a wicked expensive Electron...

A fibre coupled near-infrared superluminescent light emitting diode that emits approximately 10 mW of radiation between 1.62 and 1.7 microm is employed in combination with a broad-band cavity enhanced spectrometer consisting of a linear optical cavity with mirrors of reflectivity approximately 99.98% and either a dispersive near-infrared spectrometer or a Fourier transform interferometer. Resul...