RUI: Atomic Interferometers and Lifetimes

United States Air Force Academy, U S A F Academy CO

Investigators

Abstract

This project will investigate atom guiding in hollow-core fibers and make precision measurements of atomic lifetimes. Atom guiding in the hollow centers of some optical fibers is analogous to light propagation in conventional fiber optics, and may allow a number of fundamental physics tests with atom interferometers similar to experiments with light. Better measurements of atomic lifetimes allow improved understanding of the structure of atoms and fundamental laws of physics such as parity violation. The broader impact of this research is the possibility of development of inertial navigational sensors that are better than GPS and improved understanding of atoms and molecules and their chemistry. Furthermore this research will involve training undergraduate students and military faculty in basic science.