A faster scaling in acceleration-sensitive atom interferometers

G. D. McDonald, C. C.N. Kuhn, S. Bennetts, J. E. Debs, K. S. Hardman, J. D. Close, N. P. Robins

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Atom interferometers have been used to measure acceleration with at best a T2 scaling in sensitivity as the interferometer time T is increased. This limits the sensitivity to acceleration which is theoretically achievable by these configurations for a given frequency of acceleration. We predict and experimentally measure the acceleration-sensitive phase shift of a large-momentum-transfer atom interferometer based upon Bloch oscillations. Using this novel interferometric scheme we demonstrate an improved scaling of sensitivity which will scale as T3. This enhanced scaling will allow an increase in achievable sensitivity for any given frequency of an oscillatory acceleration signal, which will be of particular use for inertial and navigational sensors, and proposed gravitational wave detectors. A straightforward extension should allow a T4 scaling in acceleration sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number63001
JournalEPL
Volume105
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014
Externally publishedYes

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