Tractor Atom Interferometry

Abstract

We propose a tractor atom interferometer (TAI) based on three-dimensonal tight confinement and transport of split atomic wavefunction components in programmable tractor traps. Using Crank-Nicolson simulations of scalar and spinor wavefunction evolution, we confirm validity of the path-integral formalism over the pre-determined tractor-trap trajectories in several examples, quantify projected gravimeter sensitivity, and study robustness of scalar and spinor TAI matter-wave splitters against non-adiabatic effects. We discuss the advantages of TAI over other matter-wave interferometers and address aspects for future experimental realizations of TAI for acceleration and rotation sensing.