Control and Detection of the Larmor Precession of<i>F</i>= 2⁸⁷Rb Bose–Einstein Condensates by Ramsey Interferometry and Spin-Echo

Abstract

Radio-frequency pulses are applied to probe and control the Larmor precession of a spin-2 Bose–Einstein condensate subject to a magnetic field gradient. Using the techniques of Ramsey interferometry and Stern–Gerlach absorption imaging, a helical spin pattern was clearly observed as spatial variations in the atomic density distribution. We experimentally show that the spin echo technique reduces the effects of spatially inhomogeneous and temporally fluctuating spin evolution, and improves the repeatability of the interferometry.