Prospects of high sensitivity atomic interferometer development for current gravimetry

Abstract

A review of the experimental results achieved in the process of atomic fountain clocks construction at “VNIIFTRI” is presented. A possibility of the application of achieved results to the development of a sensitive interferometer (gravimeter) based on cold rubidium atoms is analyzed. The relevance of the study is in the estimation of perspective of interferometer (gravimeter) based on cold atoms for absolute measurements of local free-falling constant development. Physical fundamentals of atomic gravimeter’s operation are described. A comparison between atomic gravimeter and atomic quantum frequency standard based on cold atoms is done. Engineering solutions, that are necessary for building atomic gravimeter with required sensitivity of free-falling acceleration measurement are suggested. In order to build a gravimeter with a sensitivity reaching 1 μGal/Hz1/2 the estimations of laser phase noise, residual gas pressure in vacuum system and magnetic shielding system’s parameters are made.