Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Dual-atomic-beam matter-wave gyroscope

T. L. Gustavson, Philippe Bouyer, Mark A. Kasevich

Published May 15, 1998• 15 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report improvements to our atom-interferometer based Sagnac gyroscope which uses stimulated Raman transitions to manipulate atomic wavepackets of cesium atoms. Using counter-propagating high-flux atomic beams, we form two interferometers with opposite Sagnac phase shifts that share key components such as Raman atomic state manipulation beams. Subtracting the two interferometer signals allows the common-mode rejection of spurious noise sources and various systematic effects. Preliminary results indicate a short term sensitivity of 3 X 10-9 (rad/s) (root) Hz.

DOI
10.1117/12.308363

Related papers

Rotation sensing with a dual atom-interferometer Sagnac gyroscope

T. L. Gustavson, Arnaud Landragin, Mark A. Kasevich

We reports improvements to our Sagnac effect matter-wave interferometer gyroscope. This device now has a short-term rotation-rate sensitivity of 6 × 10 -10 rad s -1 over 1 s of integration, which is the best publicly reported value to date. Stimulated Raman transitions are used to coherently manipulate atoms from counterpropagating thermal beams, forming two interferometers with opposite rotation phase shifts, allowing rotation to be distinguished from acceleration and laser arbitrary phase. Furthermore, electronically compensating the rotation-induced Doppler shifts of the Raman lasers allows operation at an effective zero rotation rate, improving sensitivity and facilitating sensitive lock-in detection readout techniques. Long-term stability is promising but not yet fully characterized. Potential applications include inertial navigation, geophysical studies and tests of general relativity.

Classical and Quantum Gravity•Jun 8, 2000•474 citations

Precision Rotation Sensing Using Atom Interferometry

T. L. Gustavson

A rotation-rate sensor was developed using atom interferometry and the Sagnac effect for matter waves. This device has a short-term sensitivity of 6× 10−10 rad/sec for a 1 second integration time, which is the best publicly reported value to date. It has high intrinsic accuracy because it relies on interactions between atoms and laser light that is stabilized to an atomic transition. Long-term stability is promising and characterization is currently underway. Potential applications include inertial navigation, geophysical studies, and general relativity tests such as verification of the Lense-Thirring and geodetic effects. The principle of operation is as follows: A thermal cesium atomic beam crosses three laser interaction regions where two-photon stimulated Raman transitions between cesium ground states transfer momentum to atoms and divide, deflect, and recombine the atomic wavepackets. Rotation induces a phase shift between the two possible trajectories and causes a change in the detected number of atoms with a particular internal state. Counterpropagating atomic beams form two interferometers using shared lasers for common-mode rejection, and the rotation phase shifts have opposite sign since the phase shift is proportional to the vector velocity of the atoms. Therefore, subtracting or adding the interferometer signals discriminates between rotation and transverse acceleration summed with laser arbitrary phase. Furthermore, in the inertial reference frame of the atoms, rotations Doppler-shift the Raman lasers. Adding Raman frequency shifts to cancel these Doppler-shifts allows operation at an effective zero rotation rate, improving sensitivity and bandwidth. Modulating these frequency shifts facilitates sensitive lock-in detection readout techniques.

•Jan 1, 2000•24 citations

Precision Rotation Measurements with an Atom Interferometer Gyroscope

T. L. Gustavson, Philippe Bouyer, Mark A. Kasevich

We report the demonstration of a Sagnac-effect atom interferometer gyroscope which uses stimulated Raman transitions to coherently manipulate atomic wave packets. We have measured the Earth's rotation rate, and demonstrated a short-term sensitivity to rotations of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}(\mathrm{rad}/\mathrm{s})/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$.

Physical Review Letters•Mar 17, 1997•787 citations

An Atom SAGNAC Interferometer With Continuous Cold Atomic Beam Sources

Zhixin Meng, Peiqiang Yan, Xiaojie Li +2 more

We present an atom interferometer with two counter-propagating continuous cold atomic beam of87Rb atoms as a gyroscope with high accuracy and high sampling rates. Two atomic beam sources are generated directly from 2D+Magneto-Optical Trappings (MOTs) with the flux of about 3×109atoms/s and mean longitudinal velocity of 10 m/s. Raman-Ramsey interference is experimentally demonstrated with the central fringe width of 54 Hz.

IEEE International Symposium on Inertial Sensors and Systems (INERTIAL)•Mar 1, 2020•2 citations

Composite-Light-Pulse Technique for High-Precision Atom Interferometry

Peter Berg, Sven Abend, Gunnar Tackmann +6 more

We realize beam splitters and mirrors for atom waves by employing a sequence of light pulses rather than individual ones. In this way we can tailor atom interferometers with improved sensitivity and accuracy. We demonstrate our method of composite pulses by creating a symmetric matter-wave interferometer which combines the advantages of conventional Bragg- and Raman-type concepts. This feature leads to an interferometer with a high immunity to technical noise allowing us to devise a large-area Sagnac gyroscope yielding a phase shift of 6.5 rad due to the Earth's rotation. With this device we achieve a rotation rate precision of 120 nrad s(-1) Hz(-1/2) and determine the Earth's rotation rate with a relative uncertainty of 1.2%.

Physical Review Letters•Feb 9, 2015•195 citations

Calibration of atomic trajectories in a large-area dual-atom-interferometer gyroscope

Zhan-Wei Yao, Si-Bin Lu, Runbing Li +3 more

We propose and demonstrate a method for calibrating atomic trajectories in a large-area dual-atom-interferometer gyroscope. The atom trajectories are monitored by modulating and delaying the Raman transition, and they are precisely calibrated by controlling the laser orientation and the bias magnetic field. To improve the immunity to the gravity effect and the common phase noise, the symmetry and the overlap of two large-area atomic interference loops are optimized by calibrating the atomic trajectories and by aligning the Raman-laser orientations. The dual-atom-interferometer gyroscope is applied in the measurement of the Earth's rotation. The sensitivity is $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ rad $\mathrm{s}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\text{Hz}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$, and the long-term stability is $6.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ rad/s at 2000 s.

arXiv:1711.05872•Physical Review A•Jan 17, 2018•32 citations
We report improvements to our atom-interferometer based Sagnac gyroscope which uses stimulated Raman transitions to manipulate atomic wavepackets of cesium atoms. Using counter-propagating high-flux atomic beams, we form two interferometers with opposite Sagnac phase shifts that share key components such as Raman atomic state manipulation beams. Subtracting the two interferometer signals allows the common-mode rejection of spurious noise sources and various systematic effects. Preliminary results indicate a short term sensitivity of 3 X 10-9 (rad/s) (root) Hz.
We reports improvements to our Sagnac effect matter-wave interferometer gyroscope. This device now has a short-term rotation-rate sensitivity of 6 × 10 -10 rad s -1 over 1 s of integration, which is the best publicly reported value to date. Stimulated Raman transitions are used to coherently manipulate atoms from counterpropagating thermal beams, forming two interferometers with opposite rotation phase shifts, allowing rotation to be distinguished from acceleration and laser arbitrary phase. Furthermore, electronically compensating the rotation-induced Doppler shifts of the Raman lasers allows operation at an effective zero rotation rate, improving sensitivity and facilitating sensitive lock-in detection readout techniques. Long-term stability is promising but not yet fully characterized. Potential applications include inertial navigation, geophysical studies and tests of general relativity.
A rotation-rate sensor was developed using atom interferometry and the Sagnac effect for matter waves. This device has a short-term sensitivity of 6× 10−10 rad/sec for a 1 second integration time, which is the best publicly reported value to date. It has high intrinsic accuracy because it relies on interactions between atoms and laser light that is stabilized to an atomic transition. Long-term stability is promising and characterization is currently underway. Potential applications include inertial navigation, geophysical studies, and general relativity tests such as verification of the Lense-Thirring and geodetic effects. The principle of operation is as follows: A thermal cesium atomic beam crosses three laser interaction regions where two-photon stimulated Raman transitions between cesium ground states transfer momentum to atoms and divide, deflect, and recombine the atomic wavepackets. Rotation induces a phase shift between the two possible trajectories and causes a change in the detected number of atoms with a particular internal state. Counterpropagating atomic beams form two interferometers using shared lasers for common-mode rejection, and the rotation phase shifts have opposite sign since the phase shift is proportional to the vector velocity of the atoms. Therefore, subtracting or adding the interferometer signals discriminates between rotation and transverse acceleration summed with laser arbitrary phase. Furthermore, in the inertial reference frame of the atoms, rotations Doppler-shift the Raman lasers. Adding Raman frequency shifts to cancel these Doppler-shifts allows operation at an effective zero rotation rate, improving sensitivity and bandwidth. Modulating these frequency shifts facilitates sensitive lock-in detection readout techniques.
We realize beam splitters and mirrors for atom waves by employing a sequence of light pulses rather than individual ones. In this way we can tailor atom interferometers with improved sensitivity and accuracy. We demonstrate our method of composite pulses by creating a symmetric matter-wave interferometer which combines the advantages of conventional Bragg- and Raman-type concepts. This feature leads to an interferometer with a high immunity to technical noise allowing us to devise a large-area Sagnac gyroscope yielding a phase shift of 6.5 rad due to the Earth's rotation. With this device we achieve a rotation rate precision of 120 nrad s(-1) Hz(-1/2) and determine the Earth's rotation rate with a relative uncertainty of 1.2%.
We propose and demonstrate a method for calibrating atomic trajectories in a large-area dual-atom-interferometer gyroscope. The atom trajectories are monitored by modulating and delaying the Raman transition, and they are precisely calibrated by controlling the laser orientation and the bias magnetic field. To improve the immunity to the gravity effect and the common phase noise, the symmetry and the overlap of two large-area atomic interference loops are optimized by calibrating the atomic trajectories and by aligning the Raman-laser orientations. The dual-atom-interferometer gyroscope is applied in the measurement of the Earth's rotation. The sensitivity is $1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ rad $\mathrm{s}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\text{Hz}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$, and the long-term stability is $6.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ rad/s at 2000 s.