Universal matter-wave interferometry as a sensor in atomic physics and physical chemistry

摘要

We review the concept of matter-wave assisted molecule metrology and present the most recent experiments which exploit the capability of universal matter-wave interferometers to measure forces as small as 10~(-26) N via shifts of t he interference fringes in the presence of well-controlled fields. This technique allows us to compare, in the same instrument, a variety of electronic and magnetic properties for a large range of atoms and molecules. We exemplify this here with precision measurements of the static polarizability of cesium atoms and the fullerenes C_(60) and C_(70) as well as dynamically-induced susceptibilities of tailored tripeptides. We also present measurements of magnetic properties such as the diamagnetic susceptibility of ground-state atoms and aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons.