We present an observation of zero-to-$\pi$ phase flips induced by Rabi oscillation in an unbalanced Ramsey atom interferometer. The phase shift and visibility are experimentally investigated by modulating either the polarization or duration of Raman lasers, and they are well explained by a theoretical model. In an atom interferometer, the $\pi$ phase flips are caused not only by the sign of Rabi frequency but also by the Rabi oscillation. Considering the $\pi$ phase flips, we propose the composite-light-pulse sequences for realizing the large-momentum-transfer beam splitter and mirror, which have the high immunity to the external phase noise in building the cold atom interferometer.

• Received 27 March 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.94.033613