Measuring Energy Differences by BEC Interferometry on a Chip

Abstract

We investigate the use of a Bose-Einstein condensate trapped on an atom chip for making interferometric measurements of small energy differences. We measure and explain the noise in the energy difference of the split condensates, which derives from statistical noise in the number difference. We also consider systematic errors. A leading effect is the variation of rf magnetic field in the trap with distance from the wires on the chip surface. This can produce energy differences that are comparable with those due to gravity.