We have observed matter-wave interference for the first time on our experiment!

After creating a Rb87 BEC in a static magnetic trap, we used radio-frequency fields to create a  dressed-state double-well potential, “splitting” the BEC into two.  We then switched off the trapping potential and allowed the two halves to fall under gravity for 18 ms.  The two halves expand and overlap during the time of flight, forming the interference pattern seen in the image above (which was taken using absorption imaging).

Now we need to optimise the interference (and the rest of the experiment!) before beginning experiments with our new matter-wave interferometer!