A marginally stable optical resonator for enhanced atom interferometry

Abstract

We propose a marginally stable optical resonator suitable for atom interferometry. The resonator geometry is based on two flat mirrors at the focal planes of a lens that produces the large beam waist required to coherently manipulate cold atomic ensembles. Optical gains of about 100 are achievable using optics with part-per-thousand losses. The resulting power build-up will allow for enhanced coherent manipulation of the atomic wavepackets such as large separation beamsplitters. We study the effect of longitudinal misalignments and assess the robustness of the resonator in terms of intensity and phase profiles of the intra-cavity field. We also study how to implement atom interferometry based on Large Momentum Transfer Bragg diffraction in such a cavity.