An on-chip cold-atom gravimeter
Ian S. Osborne
Metrology
Gravimeters sense tiny changes in the local gravitational field and are used in geological studies, mineral exploration, and civil engineering to detect underground voids. Typically the size and weight of a small microwave oven, their operation is mechanical: A test mass pulls on a sensitive spring, and any difference in extension is compared with a reference point. Cold atoms cooled to their quantum ground state offer a quantum mechanical approach for detecting gravity. Abend et al. have developed an onchip cold-atom interferometer in which the active part of the sensor, including atom cooling and interference, takes up less than a cubic centimeter. The on-chip approach offers the prospect of compact and sensitive gravimeters for field deployment.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117 , 203003 (2016).
Science•Dec 8, 2016•3 citations