Nathaniel Kan

Perspectives on Science
11/13/01

1) How do external forces influence the observed interference patterns in de Broglie

wave interferometers?

A de Broglie wave interferometer uses streams of atoms to determine external forces on

the system. When the stream enters the interferometer, it is first split into two streams,
which take separate paths and then are rejoined at the end. Because the external forces
affect the two streams separately on their individual paths, when the reach the end point,
there is a phase shift between the two beams. By measuring this phase shift, we can
determine the external forces on the system.

2) How can gravity gradient sensors be used to find diamonds or oil?

Diamonds and oil are found in regions of low geological density. These areas, because of
their low density, exert a different force of gravity than normal areas. A gravity gradient
sensor is used to find changes in the Earth’s gravitational field on a very low scale. These
sensors would be able to detect these changes.

3) Why can't direct gravity measurements be used to characterize gravitational anomalies

from moving platforms such as helicopters or airplanes?

A non-inertial reference frame is indistinguishable from a uniform gravity field affecting

an inertial one. Because of this, attempting to measure gravity from a moving platform is
impossible, a gravity gradient sensor wouldn’t be able to distinguish what is acceleration
and what are changes in a gravitational field.

4) What is Bose-Einstein condensation?

When the wavelengths of atoms are large enough to overlap as waves, the quantum states
of all the atoms become in phase with each other. This results in the atoms becoming like
one large atom, and is known as Bose-Einstein condensation.