Time-of-flight detection of ultra-cold atoms using resonant frequency modulation imaging.

Resonant frequency modulation imaging is used to detect free falling ultra-cold atoms. A theoretical comparison of fluorescence imaging (FI) and frequency modulation imaging (FMI) is made, indicating that for low optical depth clouds, FMI accomplished a higher signal-to-noise ratio under conditions necessary for a 200 mu m spatially resolved atom interferometer. A 750 ms time-of-flight measurement reveals near atom shot-noise limited number measurements of 2 x 10(6) Bose-condensed Rb-87 atoms. The detection system is applied to high precision spinor BEC based atom interferometer. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America