Team

Quantum atom optics

Scientific activity

We aim to generate and study atomic states with specific quantum properties. Our experimental setup utilizes the metastable helium atom, for which we have developed a single-atom detector capable of resolving atomic velocities in all three spatial dimensions. We have recently developed protocols to generate efficient atomic mirrors and splitters via two-photon Bragg transitions. We have demonstrated the Hanbury-Brown-Twiss effect (2005 and 2007) as well as the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect (2015), where two-body quantum correlations are essential. Recently, we demonstrated the entanglement between quasiparticles generated by parametric excitation of a Bose-Einstein condensate (2025).

© Victor Gondret, 2025

Figure: Pulse-resolved Ramsey interference. Two velocity classes (Alice and Bob) are each subjected to two temporally offset atomic separators, resulting in the appearance of fringes in four velocity classes.