Abstract

This paper shows that matter-wave interferometers employing low-velocity neutral atoms can be used as inertial sensors with sensitivities that exceed those of conventional mechanical sensors and multiple circuit optical interferometers by many powers of ten. The energy and mass dependence of the phase shifts that are due to rotation and acceleration are different. Thus a pair of interferometers with different energies and/or masses can perform simultaneous independent measurements of rotation and acceleration. A proposed configuration is one formed by a sequence of planar diffraction gratings operating in high order. Gratings consist of near-resonant standing-wave laser beams. Laser decelerated and cooled atomic beams provide a suitable source. Path curvature due to acceleration and rotation is canceled by magnetic field gradients that produce an effective magnetic levitation of the atoms in a feedback arrangement that maintains null phase shift.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.