Atom interferometry based on light pulses : application to the high precision measurement of the ratio h/m and the determination of the fine structure constant

Abstract

In this paper we present a short overview of atom interferometry based on light pulses. We discuss different implementations and their applications for high precision measurements. We will focus on the determination of the ratio h/m of the Planck constant to an atomic mass. The measurement of this quantity is performed by combining Bloch oscillations of atoms in a moving optical lattice with a Ramsey-Bord\'e interferometer.