Abstract
Beams of atoms can exhibit interference and diffraction phenomena just like waves of light. For a coherent beam of helium atoms in a double-slit experiment, measurements of the quantum-mechanical analogue of the classical phase-space distribution function show that the motion of atoms behaves in a strongly non-classical manner.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, C. S., Sigel, M. & Mlynek, J. Phys. Rep. 240, 143–210 (1994).
Carnal, O. & Mlynek, J. Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 2689–2692 (1991).
Keith, D. W., Ekstrom, C. R., Turchette, Q. A. & Pritchard, D. E. Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 2693–2696 (1991).
Berman, P. (ed.) Atom Interferometry (Academic, San Diego, 1997).
Wigner, E. Phys. Rev. 40, 749–759 (1932).
Royer, A. Foundat. Phys. 19, 3–32 (1989).
Hillery, M., O'Conell, R. F., Scully, M. O. & Wigner, E. P. Phys. Rep. 106, 121–167 (1984).
Bertrand, J. & Bertrand, P. Foundat. Phys. 17, 397–405 (1987).
Vogel, K. & Risken, H. Phys. Rev. A 40, 2847–2849 (1989).
D'Ariano, G. M., Macciavello, C. & Paris, M. G. A. Phys. Rev. A 50, 4298–4302 (1994).
Tan, S. M. J. Mod. Opt. (submitted).
Busžek, V., Adam, G. & Drobný, G. Ann. Phys. (NY) 254, 37–97 (1996).
Smithey, D. T., Beck, M., Raymer, M. G. & Faridani, A. Phys. Rev. Lett. 70, 1244–1247 (1993).
Breitenbach, G. et al J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 12, 2304–2309 (1995).
Dunn, T. J., Walmsley, I. A. & Mukamel, S. Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 884–887 (1995).
Monroe, C., Meekhof, D. M., King, B. E. & Wineland, D. J. Science 272, 1131–1135 (1996).
Leibfried, D., King, B. E., Monroe, C., Itano, M. & Wineland, D. J. Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4281–4285 (1996).
Janicke, U. & Wilkens, M. J. Mod. Opt. 42, 2183–2199 (1995).
Raymer, M. G., Beck, M. & McAlister, D. F. Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1137–1140 (1994).
Lohmann, A. W. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 10, 2181–2186 (1993).
Kienle, S. H., Freyberger, M., Schleich, W. P. & Raymer, M. G. in Experimental Metaphysics: Quantum Mechanical Studies for Abner Shimony (eds Cohen, R. S., Horne, M. A. & Stachel, J.) 121–133 (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1997).
Richter, Th. & Wünsche, A. Phys. Rev. A 53, 1974–1977 (1996).
Leonhard, U. & Raymer, M. G. Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1985–1989 (1996).
Kurtsiefer, Ch. & Mlynek, J. Appl. Phys. B 64, 85–90 (1996).
Hotop, H. in Methods of Experimental Physics Vol. 29B (eds Dunning, F. B. & Hulet, R. G.) 191–215 (Academic, San Diego, 1995).
Pfau, T., Kurtsiefer, Ch. & Mlynek, J. Quant. Semiclass. Opt. 8, 665–671 (1996).
Kurtsiefer, Ch. et al Phys. Rev. A (submitted).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kurtsiefer, C., Pfau, T. & Mlynek, J. Measurement of the Wigner function of an ensemble of helium atoms. Nature 386, 150–153 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/386150a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/386150a0
