Continuous 3D-Cooled Atom Beam Interferometer
US20260074087A1
Abstract
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide atom beam interferometry. MTL beams are directed to respective MTL regions along a 3D-cooled atom beam. Within each MTL region, the respective MTL beam coherently imparts photon recoil momenta to atoms of the atom beam to produce an interference signal in the atom beam. The MTL beams are switched between first and second cases providing first and second interfering trajectory paths for the atom beam, and the atom beam is continuously directed through the MTL regions while switching the MTL beams. Atoms from the atom beam are received along the first and second interfering trajectory paths at a detection region. State-dependent responses from the atoms of the atom beam are induced in the detection region to provide data of atomic states occupied by the atoms. The data of the atomic states is translated into an interferometry measurement. Related interferometers are also disclosed.
Description (excerpt)
CROSS-REFERENCE This Application is a Nonprovisional patent application and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 as a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/066,344 filed on Dec. 15, 2022, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/290,682 filed on Dec. 17, 2021. The disclosures of Provisional Patent Application No. 63/290,682, patent application Ser. No. 18/066,344, and all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure in their entirety. FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The U.S. Government has ownership rights in this invention. Licensing inquiries may be directed to Office of Technology Transfer, US Naval Research Laboratory, Code 1004, Washington, DC 20375, USA; +1.202.767.7230; nrltechtran@us.navy.mil, referencing Navy Case #210909. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a method and device for performing continuous, inertially sensitive atom interferometry measurements in a 3D-ultracold atomic beam, e.g., for the purpose of measuring acceleration, rotation rate, or gravity. BACKGROUND Atom interferometers provide a means of measuring accelerations, rotation rates, acceleration due to gravity, or gravity gradients through the quantum mechanical interference of atomic matter waves. One common class of atom interferometers is known as “light-pulse” atom interferometers, in which in which coherent interaction with momentum-transfer laser beams (“MTL beams”) causes the atoms to propagate in a quantum superposition of trajectories that interfere with one another. In one common MTL beam geometry, three sets of counter-propagating laser beam pairs driving momentum-changing Raman transitions, separated by a free evolution period T, produce an interferometer with inertially sensitive phase difference (to lowest order in T) Φ = T 2 k → eff · ( a → - 2 Ω → × v → atom ) , where h{right arrow over (k)} eff is the momentum imparted the the atom by the MTL beam, and {right arrow over (a)} is the interferometer acceleration vector, {right arrow over (Ω)} is the interferometer rotation rate vector, and {right arrow over (ν)} atom is the mean velocity of the atoms. Interferometer phase Φ is inferred from the atomic population in the interferometer output ports. Population can be measured through a variety of state-dependent response means such as state-selective atomic fluorescence. Single interferometers, or multiple interferometers, can thus be arranged to provide measurements of accelerations, rotation rates, gravitational accelerations, gravity gradients, or other inertial effects. The block schematic in FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary case of such MTL-based atom interferometers. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , in such interferometers, a first MTL beam provides a π/2 pulse to each atom traveling in the atom beam through the interferometer, operating analogously to a beamsplitter in optical interferometry. The π/2 pulse causes the atom to propagate in a quantum superposition of two different momenta, which are separated by the photon recoil momentum h{right arrow over (k)} eff . Following a free evolution period T, a second MTL beam provides a π pulse to each atom, operating analogously to a mirror in optical interferometry. The π pulse causes the momenta in the
Filing details
- Inventors
- Adam Black
- Assignee
- The Government Of The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary …
- Filed
- Nov 6, 2025
- Granted
- Application pending
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