Abstract
We present an open quantum system theory of atom interferometers evolving in the quantized electromagnetic field bounded by an ideal conductor. Our treatment reveals an unprecedented feature of matter-wave propagation, namely the appearance of a non-local double-path phase coherence. In the standard interpretation of interferometers, one associates well-defined separate phases to individual paths. Our non-local phase coherence is instead associated to pairs of paths. It arises from the coarse-graining over the quantized electromagnetic field and internal atomic degrees of freedom, which play the role of a common reservoir for the pair of paths and lead to a non-Hamiltonian evolution of the atomic waves. We develop a diagrammatic interpretation and estimate the non-local phase for realistic experimental parameters.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 60006 |
Journal | Europhysics Letters |
Volume | 101 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)