Spin-squeezing of ⁸⁷Rb via optical measurement

This project aims to reduce measurement uncertainty in atomic clocks by squeezing the collective spin of atoms. Spin-squeezing reduces noise below the standard quantum limit where precision scales as 1/ [square root of] N, allowing us to instead approach the Heisenberg limit where it scales as 1/N. We report spin-squeezing of the (F = 2, mR = 0) --> (F = 1, mF = 0) hyperfine transition of the 5S1/2 level of ⁸⁷Rb. We also demonstrate a viable setup for the spin-squeezing of the magnetically trappable (F = 2, mF = 1) --> (F = 1, mF = -1) transition, which could potentially be used as a compact frequency standard. This thesis provides a brief theoretical background of spin-squeezing and a summary of the project in its current state.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2008

Author dc:creator

• Schwab, Adele Ann

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Vladan Vuletić.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45338

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/45338