Scattering of cold-atom coherences by hot atoms: Frequency shifts from background-gas collisions

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Abstract

Frequency shifts from background-gas collisions currently contribute significantly to the inaccuracy of atomic clocks. Because nearly all collisions with room-temperature background gases that transfer momentum eject the cold atoms from the clock, the interference between the scattered and unscattered waves in the forward direction dominates these frequency shifts. We show they are ≈10 times smaller than in room-temperature clocks and that van der Waals interactions produce the cold-atom background-gas shift. General considerations allow the loss of the Ramsey fringe amplitude to bound this frequency shift.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number180802
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume110
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - May 3 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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