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IEEE/ION Position Location and Navigation Symposium

Submarine navigation applications of atom interferometry

Hugh F. Rice, Vincent Benischek

Published Jan 1, 2008• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Atom Interferometry is a next generation navigation technology based on Nobel Prize winning research into atom laser cooling and coherent atom waves. The technology is applicable to inertial navigation sensors: gyroscopes, accelerometers, gravity gradiometers and precision time. This paper discusses the theory of free fall atom interferometry, and its application as the inertial navigator for future submarine platforms.

DOI
10.1109/plans.2008.4570035

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IEEE/ION Position Location and Navigation Symposium•Jan 1, 2008•11 citations
Atom Interferometry is a next generation navigation technology based on Nobel Prize winning research into atom laser cooling and coherent atom waves. The technology is applicable to inertial navigation sensors: gyroscopes, accelerometers, gravity gradiometers and precision time. This paper discusses the theory of free fall atom interferometry, and its application as the inertial navigator for future submarine platforms.
With the progress of laser cooling and other atom optics technologies, the cold atom interferometry gyroscope based on cold atom wave is developing rapidly, and it promises to be a novel gyroscope technology in inertial navigation areas. The research status of cold atom interferometry gyroscope and the principle of atom interferometry are introduced, and a comparative analysis of the characteristics among the three distinct types of cold atom interferometry gyroscopes in Stanford University, Observatoire de Paris and Hanover University is carried out. The improving schemes and developing prospects of cold atom interferometry gyroscope are discussed by focusing on its current limitations, aiming at its wider application in inertial navigation fields.
Atom de Broglie wave interferometry has emerged as a tool capable of addressing a diverse set of questions in gravitational and condensed matter physics, and as an enabling technology for advanced sensors in geodesy and navigation. This talk will review basic principles, then discuss recent applications and future directions. Scientific applications to be discussed include measurement of G (Newton’s constant), tests of the Equivalence Principle and post-Newtonian gravity, and study of the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in layered superfluids. Technology applications include development of precision gryoscopes and gravity gradiometers. The talk will conclude with speculative remarks looking to the future: Can atom interference methods be sued to detect gravity waves? Can non-classical (entangled/squeezed state) atom sources lead to meaningful sensor performance improvements?
Quantum interferometer gravity gradiometer for 3D mapping is a project for developing the technology of atom interferometer-based gravity sensor in space. The atom interferometer utilizes atomic particles as free fall test masses to measure inertial forces with unprecedented sensitivity and precision. It also allows measurements of the gravity gradient tensor components for 3D mapping of subsurface mass distribution. The overall approach is based on recent advances of laser cooling and manipulation of atoms in atomic and optical physics. Atom interferometers have been demonstrated in research laboratories for gravity and gravity gradient measurements. In this approach, atoms are first laser cooled to micro-kelvin temperatures. Then they are allowed to freefall in vacuum as true drag-free test masses. During the free fall, a sequence of laser pulses is used to split and recombine the atom waves to realize the interferometric measurements. We have demonstrated atom interferometer operation in the Phase I period, and we are implementing the second generation for a complete gradiometer demonstration unit in the laboratory. Along with this development, we are developing technologies at component levels that will be more suited for realization of a space instrument. We will present an update of these developments and discuss the future directions of the quantum gravity gradiometer project.
The growing reliance on Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies across critical sectors such as defense, aerospace, and autonomous systems highlights the need for navigation solutions that are robust against signal loss, spoofing, and jamming. Quantum-based navigation systems offer a promising alternative, leveraging the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to achieve unprecedented precision and resilience. This paper provides an overview of the core quantum technologies enabling this next generation of navigation, including atomic interferometry, quantum accelerometers, gyroscopes, and ultra-precise quantum clocks. Cold atom techniques and laser cooling play pivotal roles in enhancing measurement stability and accuracy. The integration of these technologies into inertial navigation systems (INS) significantly reduces drift and extends operational reliability in GPS-denied environments. Quantum navigation technologies are finding applications across a wide range of domains, including military defense, underwater missions, space travel, and autonomous transportation. Despite existing obstacles such as high development costs, environmental sensitivity, and the need for further miniaturization, progress in quantum sensor development and engineering continues at a steady pace. This article presents an overview of the fundamental concepts, present capabilities, and prospective advancements in quantum navigation. It also highlights the technology's promise as a viable alternative or even a possible replacement for conventional GPS systems.
This report assesses the potential of gyroscopes and accelerometers based on cold atom interferometry (CAI) for space and defence applications, by analysing their strengths and weaknesses in comparison with devices based on other working principles. Indeed, it is widely recognized that quantum sensors based on atomic interferometry provide absolute measurements with the potential for high sensitivity and long-term stability. This last property is particularly valuable for accelerometers and gyroscopes to be used for inertial navigation, since it guarantees precise positioning without the need for frequent recalibrations, a shortcoming which affects several devices presently in use. \nHigh-performance inertial sensors play an important role both in space applications, where gyroscopes are widely used e.g. to orientate a satellite and its on-board communications and sensing equipment, and in defence, where gyroscopes and accelerometers constitute the core of the inertial measurement units to be used for autonomous navigation, e.g. in GNSS-denied conditions. The EU has a well-established role in space with the Copernicus and Galileo programmes, and a fledging but increasing involvement in the defence industry. An independent assessment of a quantum technology such as cold atom interferometry which may in time acquire a significant role in these fields is a precondition to advance well-grounded suggestions for EU policy initiatives.
New quantum devices based on manipulations of Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) on microfabricated chips hold great promise for application to high precision inertial navigation. By employing appropriate mechanizations which separate acceleration and rotation sensitivities, atom interferometers can have dual functionality as both accelerometers and gyroscopes. BEC interferometers could offer ten orders of magnitude inertial measurement improvement with possibility of developing highly sensitive inertial measurement unit (IMU) which would provide extremely accurate free-inertial navigation with long-term accuracy. This is very suitable for applications in undersea environments where direct use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) is denied. Due to the high sensitivity of BEC and the complexity of microfabricated structures, application specific sources of decoherence, environmental noises, and errors are modeled and studied.