Improving the accuracy of atom interferometers with ultracold sources

Karcher, Romain; Imanaliev, Almazbek; Merlet, Sébastien; Santos, F. Pereira Dos

doi:10.1088/1367-2630/aaf07d

Cited by 95 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…Changes in the mean atomic trajectory or temperature then lead to a limitation of the stability of the sensors. Wavefront aberrations coupled to the transverse expansion of the atom cloud in the laser beam is, for example, a limiting factor to the accuracy of cold-atom gravimeters [1-3] and has pointed towards using ultra-cold atom sources for improved accuracy [4]. Even in differential configurations such as used in atomic gyroscopes with counter-propagating atom clouds [5][6][7][8], in gravity gradiometry [9] or gravitational wave detectors [10], stochastic variations of the atom trajectories or of the laser field wavefront pose severe constraints on the optics and on the temperature and initial position jitter of the atom source.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accurate trajectory alignment in cold-atom interferometers with separated laser beams

et al. 2020

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Cold-atom interferometers commonly face systematic effects originating from the coupling between the trajectory of the atomic wave packet and the wave front of the laser beams driving the interferometer. Detrimental for the accuracy and the stability of such inertial sensors, these systematics are particularly enhanced in architectures based on spatially separated laser beams. Here we analyze the effect of a coupling between the relative alignment of two separated laser beams and the trajectory of the atomic wave packet in a four-light-pulse cold-atom gyroscope operated in fountain configuration. We present a method to align the two laser beams at the 0.2 µrad level and to determine the optimal mean velocity of the atomic wave packet with an accuracy of 0.2 mm · s −1 . Such fine tuning constrains the associated gyroscope bias to a level of 1 × 10 −10 rad · s −1 . In addition, we reveal this coupling using the point-source interferometry technique by analyzing single-shot time-of-flight fluorescence traces, which allows us to measure large angular misalignments between the interrogation beams. The alignment method which we present here can be employed in other sensor configurations and is particularly relevant to emerging gravitational wave detector concepts based on cold-atom interferometry.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accurate trajectory alignment in cold-atom interferometers with separated laser beams

et al. 2020

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“…To meet these stringent requirements, the temperatures of the atomic ensembles have to be drastically reduced (down to a sub-nK level) and their size must remain compact (not exceeding a few mm after several seconds of free expansion) clearly indicating the necessity of using Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC). Such a direction is taken by several metrology groups worldwide [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] , including the QUANTUS and MAIUS consortia 11 which reached important milestones in controlling quantum gases dynamics in microgravity conditions using atom chips 12,13 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimal control of the transport of Bose-Einstein condensates with atom chips

Amri

Corgier

Sugny

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Using Optimal Control Theory (OCT), we design fast ramps for the controlled transport of Bose-Einstein condensates with atom chips’ magnetic traps. These ramps are engineered in the context of precision atom interferometry experiments and support transport over large distances, typically of the order of 1 mm, i.e . about 1,000 times the size of the atomic clouds, yet with durations not exceeding 200 ms. We show that with such transport durations of the order of the trap period, one can recover the ground state of the final trap at the end of the transport. The performance of the OCT procedure is compared to that of a Shortcut-To-Adiabaticity (STA) protocol and the respective advantages/disadvantages of the OCT treatment over the STA one are discussed.

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“…A modest beam pick off from Raman 1 is sent from module (f) to module (b). This module creates the repump light sent to the 3D MOT module (c) but also the outputs (13) and (14) used for preparation and detection.…”

Section: Micro-optic Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A fibered laser system for the MIGA large scale atom interferometer

Sabulsky

Junca

Lefevre

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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We describe the realization and characterization of a compact, autonomous fiber laser system that produces the optical frequencies required for laser cooling, trapping, manipulation, and detection of 87 Rb atoms -a typical atomic species for emerging quantum technologies. This device, a customized laser system from the Muquans company, is designed for use in the challenging operating environment of the Laboratoire Souterrain à Bas Bruit (LSBB) in France, where a new large scale atom interferometer is being constructed underground -the MIGA antenna. The mobile bench comprises four frequency-agile C-band Telecom diode lasers that are frequency doubled to 780 nm after passing through high-power fiber amplifiers. The first laser is frequency stabilized on a saturated absorption signal via lock-in amplification, which serves as an optical frequency reference for the other three lasers via optical phase-locked loops. Power and polarization stability are maintained through a series of custom, flexible micro-optic splitter/combiners that contain polarization optics, acousto-optic modulators, and shutters. Here, we show how the laser system is designed, showcasing qualities such as reliability, stability, remote control, and flexibility, while maintaining the qualities of laboratory equipment. We characterize the laser system by measuring the power, polarization, and frequency stability. We conclude with a demonstration using a cold atom source from the MIGA project and show that this laser system fulfills all requirements for the realization of the antenna. This laser system system, based on reliable telecommunications technology, has applications toward mobile, field deployable quantum technologies.Pioneering experiments in matter-wave interferometry 5-7 demonstrating inertial sensitivity led to significant interest for precision measurements using atomic beamlines. Development of laser-cooling schemes 8-11 during the last thirty years have produced a series of methods to produce small 3D kinetic temperatures in dilute atomic gases. This led to atom interferometry with cold atoms, which has a track record of accuracy and precision spanning the development of laser cooling. This technique has been used to measure gravity 12-17 , gravity gradients 18,19 , rotations 20-24 , measurements of the gravitational constant G 25, 26 , determination of the fine structure constant coupled with tests of quantum electrodynamics 27, 28 , studies of the interface between gravity and quantum mechanics 29, 30 , General Relativity (GR) tests such as the searches for violations of the Weak Equivalence Principle 31-37 , tests of local Lorentz invariance of post-Newtonian gravity 38 , experiments in microgravity 39-41 , tests of dark energy 42,43 , and recoil associated with blackbody radiation 44 . Based on this record of precision measurements, cold atom interferometry gained traction as a candidate system for observing Gravitational Waves (GWs) at low frequency [45][46][47][48][49][50][51] . The schemes developed in these experiments form ...

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Improving the accuracy of atom interferometers with ultracold sources

Cited by 95 publications

References 43 publications

Accurate trajectory alignment in cold-atom interferometers with separated laser beams

Accurate trajectory alignment in cold-atom interferometers with separated laser beams

Optimal control of the transport of Bose-Einstein condensates with atom chips

A fibered laser system for the MIGA large scale atom interferometer

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