Multiple-Beam Atom Interferometry: An Overview

A review of recent experiments in multiple-beam atom interferometry is presented. In contrast to the sinusoidal interference pattern obtained in twobeam interferometry, the signal in this work is a sharply peaked Airy function similar to that obtained in multiple-beam optical interferometry. Apart from this fringe sharpening, collapse and revival of the interference signal — a phenomenon that is characteristic of multiple-beam interferometry — is observed. We present studies of a generalized Aharanov—Bohm phase shift and of controlled decoherence in multiple-beam atomic interference. Finally, recent work on multiple-beam atom interferometry using cold rubidium in a fountain configuration is discussed.