Stern Gerlach interferometry with metastable argon atoms: an immaterial mask modulating the profile of a supersonic beam

A new Stern Gerlach interferometer operating with a nozzle beam of metastable argon atoms Ar^* (3p⁵ 4s, ³ P ₂) is described. The selection of incoming (polarisation) and outgoing (analysis) Zeeman sublevels is achieved by use of laser induced transitions at two wavelengths, 811.5 nm (closed J = 2 → J = 3 transition) and 801.5 nm (open J = 2 → J = 2 transition). Linear superpositions of Zeeman sublevels, just beyond the polariser and just before the analyser, are prepared by means of two zones where Majorana transitions take place. In between, a controlled magnetic field configuration (the phase object) is produced within a triple μ-metal shielding. Standard interference patterns are obtained by scanning the field and detecting the atoms by secondary electron emission from a Faraday cup. When a static radial magnetic gradient is used, the beam profile is modulated by interference. The transverse pattern, which can be translated at will by adding a homogeneous field, is observed for the first time using a multi-channel electron multiplier followed by a phosphor screen and a CCD camera. The results satisfactorily agree with all theoretical predictions. Received 27 June 2002 / Received in final form 20 September 2002 Published online 4 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: perales@lpl.univ-paris13.fr RID="b" ID="b"UMR 7538 du CNRS