Phase-sensitive imaging of cold atoms at the shot-noise limit

Abstract

<jats:p>We demonstrate simultaneous phase and amplitude imaging of cold atoms using an intrinsically stable interferometer based on polarization beam-displacers. This method allows for the straight-forward retrieval of absorption and phase-shift experienced by an optical probe transmitted through an atomic sample. Furthermore, we show that our technique has a signal-to-noise ratio limited only by photon shot-noise.</jats:p>