High-accuracy inertial measurements with cold-atom sensors

Abstract

The research on cold-atom interferometers gathers a large community of about 50 groups worldwide both in the academic and now in the industrial sectors. The interest in this sub-field of quantum sensing and metrology lies in the large panel of possible applications of cold-atom sensors for measuring inertial and gravitational signals with a high level of stability and accuracy. This review presents the evolution of the field over the last 30 years and focuses on the acceleration of the research effort in the last 10 years. The article describes the physics principle of cold-atom gravito-inertial sensors as well as the main parts of hardware and the expertise required when starting the design of such sensors. It then reviews the progress in the development of instruments measuring gravitational and inertial signals, with a highlight on the limitations to the performances of the sensors, on their applications, and on the latest directions of research.

Rotation, Strain, and Translation Sensors Performance Tests with Active Seismic Sources

“…This would increase the probability of capturing signals from e.g., regional or teleseismic earthquakes and atmosphere-ground coupling under different atmospheric conditions. Such kinds of experiments should also involve instrument technologies, like cold atom interferometry [ 64 ] and beam balances [ 65 ]. In addition, the design of special test facilities producing long period weak motions should be considered.…”

Inertial sensing with quantum gases: a comparative performance study of condensed versus thermal sources for atom interferometry

“…Experiments based on the interference of freely falling atoms measure accelerations [1,13], rotations [14][15][16][17][18], gravity gradients [19,20], determine fundamental constants [2,21,22], perform tests of fundamental physics [2,3,[22][23][24][25][26][27], and are proposed for the detection of gravitational waves [4,[28][29][30][31]. A recent review of the advances in the field of inertial sensing collects most relevant experiments and proposals so far [1,32]. Beyond proof-of-principle demonstrations, ongoing developments target commercialization as well as challenge the state of the art in sensor performance and in fundamental science [33].…”

“…Atom interferometers are mainly used for inertially sensitive measurements [1] and a variety of tests of fundamental physics [2,3]. Key levers to increase the sensitivity are the transfer of a large number of photons during the beam-splitting processes, extending the time of free fall while maintaining contrast and atomic flux.…”

Twin-lattice atom interferometry

“…The sensitivity of atom interferometers towards inertial forces 12 and gravitational waves increases linearly with the differential kinetic momentum, and, hence, the latter is exploited as a lever. Benchmark experiments have so far realized asymmetric and symmetric momentum transfer with Raman diffraction 13 – 15 and sequential and higher-order Bragg transitions 16 – 19 , as well as Bloch oscillations (BOs) 20 – 22 .…”