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

Atoms

Characterization of a Continuous Beam Cold Atom Ramsey Interferometer

Michael Manicchia, Jeffrey G. Lee, Frank A. Narducci

Published Mar 5, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The use of atom interferometers in inertial systems holds the promise of improvement of several orders of magnitude in sensitivity over sensors using current technology such as micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) devices or ring laser gyroscopes (RLGs). This paper describes the construction and characterization of an atomic interferometry system for eventual use in a dual-atom-beam accelerometer/gyroscope sensor. In contrast with current state-of-the-art atomic sensors which use pulsed cold atom sources and pulsed laser beams, the investigated apparatus relies purely on continuous atomic and laser beams. These differences can result in a sensor with reduced complexity, a smaller physical footprint, and reduced power consumption. However, these differences also introduce challenges resulting from laser and atomic beam divergences and from velocity averaging due to both longitudinal and transverse velocity spreads. In this work, we characterize our rubidium-based atom beam system and show that Ramsey-style interference can still be observed. The implications for future research are also outlined and discussed.

DOI
10.3390/atoms11030051

Related papers

CONSTRUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A DUAL ATOMIC BEAM ACCELEROMETER/GYROSCOPE

Michael Manicchia

Current sensors used for inertial navigation are based on technology with inherent sensitivity limitations. Atom interferometry is a very promising replacement, which could yield many orders of magnitude of improvement in sensitivity, leading to more accurate navigation over longer periods of time relative to current technology. This research investigates the physics of atom interferometry through the construction and characterization of an atomic accelerometer/gyroscope combination. In contrast to current state-of-the-art atomic sensors, which use pulsed cold atom sources and pulsed laser beams, the apparatus investigated relies purely on continuous atomic and laser beams. These differences would result in a sensor that lends itself more readily to smaller sizing, lower power consumption, and reduced complexity. This change in approach to atomic interferometry also introduces challenges resulting from laser and atomic beam divergences and the velocity averaging due to both longitudinal and transverse temperature, which this dissertation shows how to overcome. The work contained herein explores many stages of construction of an atomic gyro including the demonstration and characterization of two-dimensional laser cooling of atoms, stimulated Raman transitions, and Ramsey and spin echo interference. The implications for future research are also outlined and discussed.

•Jun 1, 2020•1 citation

A Dual Atomic Interferometric Inertial Sensor Utilizing Transversely Cooled Atomic Beams

Weichen Jia, Peiqiang Yan, Shengzhe Wang +1 more

Light-pulsed atomic interferometers provide a promising quantum-based solution for inertial navigation applications. In this paper, we present an atomic interferometric inertial sensor designed to simultaneously measure rotation rate and acceleration, through continuous sampling using dual87Rb atomic beams as matter-wave sources. We observe Raman-Ramsey and Raman-Mach-Zehnder interferences and validate the inertial sensing capability by comparing the results with a classical quartz accelerometer and an optical-fiber gyroscope. Our work can serve as a foundational element for the development of a fully quantum inertial measurement unit characterized with a high data rate and large bandwidth.

IEEE International Symposium on Inertial Sensors and Systems (INERTIAL)•Mar 25, 2024•0 citations

Generation of a high-flux and collimated rubidium beam source

Xiangxiang Lu, Qianyun Zhao, Chuang Pei +3 more

A high-flux and collimated atomic beam source has important application in the fields of high precision rotation measurement and atomic clocks. Starting from the principle of atomic interference measurement, the need of atom interference gyroscope for performance parameters of a rubidium beam source is briefly introduced in this paper. An atomic beam generation method that uses micro-channel stainless arrays with a length-diameter ratio of 100:1 is proposed, which is used to support the parameter design and verification system construction. A preliminary parameter characterization is performed, with a peak atomic flux of$2.1\times 10^{12}\text{atoms}/\mathrm{s}$and a full divergence angle of 16 mrad. The test results agree well with theoretical calculation, and the slight difference results from atom-wall collision. A$\pi/2-\pi/2$Ramsey interferometer with an interval of 200 mm is also constructed and characterized with two phase-coherent Raman beams, which proves good coherence of the atom beam, and thus pave the way to high-sensitivity atom interferometry measurements.

International Conference on Ocean Studies (ICOS)•Oct 3, 2023•0 citations

Closed-loop dual-atom-interferometer inertial sensor with continuous cold atomic beams

Zhi-Xin Meng, Pei-Qiang Yan, Shengzhe Wang +3 more

We demonstrate a closed-loop light-pulse atom-interferometer inertial sensor that can realize continuous decoupled measurements of acceleration and rotation rate. The sensor operates with double-loop atom interferometers, which share the same Raman light pulses in a spatially separated Mach-Zehnder configuration and use continuous cold atomic beams propagating in opposite directions from two ${\text{2D}}^{+}$ magneto-optical trappings. Acceleration and the rotation rate are decoupled and simultaneously measured by the sum and difference of dual-atom-interferometer signals, respectively. The sensitivities of inertial measurements are also increased to be approximately 1.86 times higher than that of a single atom interferometer. The acceleration phase shift is compensated in real time by phase locking these interferometers via the Raman laser phases from the sum-interferometer signal, and the gyroscope performance is improved. We achieve long-term stabilities of $6.1\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\text{g}$ and 840 nrad/s for the acceleration and the rotation rate, respectively, using a short interrogation time of 0.87 ms (interference area $A=0.097\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{mm}}^{2}$). This work provides a building block for an atomic interferometer-based inertial measurement unit for use in field applications that require a high data rate and high stability.

arXiv:2210.15346•Physical Review Applied•Mar 22, 2024•21 citations

SIMULTANEOUS DETECTION OF COUNTER-PROPAGATING ATOMIC BEAMS FOR USE IN AN ATOMIC GYROSCOPE

Evan K. Seto

Inertial navigation systems (INSs) are a redundant form of navigation for modern naval platforms and a primary form in Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environments. Current technologies like ring laser gyroscopes (RLG) are used by INSs to measure rotation and acceleration. These measurements are then used to determine position via dead reckoning. There are, however, limitations to the accuracy and stability of this technology. The fundamental sensitivity of an RLG is determined by the effective mass of the photon, which is very small. RLGs are also prone to measurement drift, leading to errors that compound over time. Atomic interferometers show increases in both accuracy and stability over time. Atomic interferometer measurements are fundamentally tied to the mass of an atom, which is ten orders of magnitude larger than the photon’s effective mass. These systems have significantly reduced measurement drift because atomic parameters, which can be tied to gyroscope parameters like scale factors, do not change over time. We discuss the complications of using atomic interferometers as gyroscopes. Two area-reversed interferometers are needed for an atomic gyroscope to distinguish between rotation and acceleration. We explore the addition of a second atomic beam to form a second interferometer in the NPS apparatus. Both atomic beams are characterized separately to verify optimal apparatus settings before a laser is used to simultaneously detect counter-propagating beams.

•Sep 1, 2025•0 citations

Development of compact cold-atom sensors for inertial navigation

Baptiste Battelier, B. Barrett, Lauriane Fouché +7 more

Inertial sensors based on cold atom interferometry exhibit many interesting features for applications related to inertial navigation, particularly in terms of sensitivity and long-term stability. However, at present the typical atom interferometer is still very much an experiment—consisting of a bulky, static apparatus with a limited dynamic range and high sensitivity to environmental effects. To be compliant with mobile applications further development is needed. In this work, we present a compact and mobile experiment, which we recently used to achieve the first inertial measurements with an atomic accelerometer onboard an aircraft. By integrating classical inertial sensors into our apparatus, we are able to operate the atomic sensor well beyond its standard operating range, corresponding to half of an interference fringe. We report atom-based acceleration measurements along both the horizontal and vertical axes of the aircraft with one-shot sensitivities of 2.3 × 10−4 g over a range of ∼ 0.1 g. The same technology can be used to develop cold-atom gyroscopes, which could surpass the best optical gyroscopes in terms of long-term sensitivity. Our apparatus was also designed to study multi-axis atom interferometry with the goal of realizing a full inertial measurement unit comprised of the three axes of acceleration and rotation. Finally, we present a compact and tunable laser system, which constitutes an essential part of any cold-atom-based sensor. The architecture of the laser is based on phase modulating a single fiber-optic laser diode, and can be tuned over a range of 1 GHz in less than 200 μs.

arXiv:1605.02454•Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Apr 29, 2016•70 citations
The use of atom interferometers in inertial systems holds the promise of improvement of several orders of magnitude in sensitivity over sensors using current technology such as micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) devices or ring laser gyroscopes (RLGs). This paper describes the construction and characterization of an atomic interferometry system for eventual use in a dual-atom-beam accelerometer/gyroscope sensor. In contrast with current state-of-the-art atomic sensors which use pulsed cold atom sources and pulsed laser beams, the investigated apparatus relies purely on continuous atomic and laser beams. These differences can result in a sensor with reduced complexity, a smaller physical footprint, and reduced power consumption. However, these differences also introduce challenges resulting from laser and atomic beam divergences and from velocity averaging due to both longitudinal and transverse velocity spreads. In this work, we characterize our rubidium-based atom beam system and show that Ramsey-style interference can still be observed. The implications for future research are also outlined and discussed.
Current sensors used for inertial navigation are based on technology with inherent sensitivity limitations. Atom interferometry is a very promising replacement, which could yield many orders of magnitude of improvement in sensitivity, leading to more accurate navigation over longer periods of time relative to current technology. This research investigates the physics of atom interferometry through the construction and characterization of an atomic accelerometer/gyroscope combination. In contrast to current state-of-the-art atomic sensors, which use pulsed cold atom sources and pulsed laser beams, the apparatus investigated relies purely on continuous atomic and laser beams. These differences would result in a sensor that lends itself more readily to smaller sizing, lower power consumption, and reduced complexity. This change in approach to atomic interferometry also introduces challenges resulting from laser and atomic beam divergences and the velocity averaging due to both longitudinal and transverse temperature, which this dissertation shows how to overcome. The work contained herein explores many stages of construction of an atomic gyro including the demonstration and characterization of two-dimensional laser cooling of atoms, stimulated Raman transitions, and Ramsey and spin echo interference. The implications for future research are also outlined and discussed.
Light-pulsed atomic interferometers provide a promising quantum-based solution for inertial navigation applications. In this paper, we present an atomic interferometric inertial sensor designed to simultaneously measure rotation rate and acceleration, through continuous sampling using dual87Rb atomic beams as matter-wave sources. We observe Raman-Ramsey and Raman-Mach-Zehnder interferences and validate the inertial sensing capability by comparing the results with a classical quartz accelerometer and an optical-fiber gyroscope. Our work can serve as a foundational element for the development of a fully quantum inertial measurement unit characterized with a high data rate and large bandwidth.
A high-flux and collimated atomic beam source has important application in the fields of high precision rotation measurement and atomic clocks. Starting from the principle of atomic interference measurement, the need of atom interference gyroscope for performance parameters of a rubidium beam source is briefly introduced in this paper. An atomic beam generation method that uses micro-channel stainless arrays with a length-diameter ratio of 100:1 is proposed, which is used to support the parameter design and verification system construction. A preliminary parameter characterization is performed, with a peak atomic flux of2.1×1012atoms/s2.1\times 10^{12}\text{atoms}/\mathrm{s}2.1×1012atoms/sand a full divergence angle of 16 mrad. The test results agree well with theoretical calculation, and the slight difference results from atom-wall collision. Aπ/2−π/2\pi/2-\pi/2π/2−π/2Ramsey interferometer with an interval of 200 mm is also constructed and characterized with two phase-coherent Raman beams, which proves good coherence of the atom beam, and thus pave the way to high-sensitivity atom interferometry measurements.
We demonstrate a closed-loop light-pulse atom-interferometer inertial sensor that can realize continuous decoupled measurements of acceleration and rotation rate. The sensor operates with double-loop atom interferometers, which share the same Raman light pulses in a spatially separated Mach-Zehnder configuration and use continuous cold atomic beams propagating in opposite directions from two 2D+{\text{2D}}^{+}2D+ magneto-optical trappings. Acceleration and the rotation rate are decoupled and simultaneously measured by the sum and difference of dual-atom-interferometer signals, respectively. The sensitivities of inertial measurements are also increased to be approximately 1.86 times higher than that of a single atom interferometer. The acceleration phase shift is compensated in real time by phase locking these interferometers via the Raman laser phases from the sum-interferometer signal, and the gyroscope performance is improved. We achieve long-term stabilities of $6.1\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{\ensuremath{\mu}}\text{g}$ and 840 nrad/s for the acceleration and the rotation rate, respectively, using a short interrogation time of 0.87 ms (interference area A=0.097mm2A=0.097\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\text{mm}}^{2}A=0.097mm2). This work provides a building block for an atomic interferometer-based inertial measurement unit for use in field applications that require a high data rate and high stability.
Inertial navigation systems (INSs) are a redundant form of navigation for modern naval platforms and a primary form in Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environments. Current technologies like ring laser gyroscopes (RLG) are used by INSs to measure rotation and acceleration. These measurements are then used to determine position via dead reckoning. There are, however, limitations to the accuracy and stability of this technology. The fundamental sensitivity of an RLG is determined by the effective mass of the photon, which is very small. RLGs are also prone to measurement drift, leading to errors that compound over time. Atomic interferometers show increases in both accuracy and stability over time. Atomic interferometer measurements are fundamentally tied to the mass of an atom, which is ten orders of magnitude larger than the photon’s effective mass. These systems have significantly reduced measurement drift because atomic parameters, which can be tied to gyroscope parameters like scale factors, do not change over time. We discuss the complications of using atomic interferometers as gyroscopes. Two area-reversed interferometers are needed for an atomic gyroscope to distinguish between rotation and acceleration. We explore the addition of a second atomic beam to form a second interferometer in the NPS apparatus. Both atomic beams are characterized separately to verify optimal apparatus settings before a laser is used to simultaneously detect counter-propagating beams.
Inertial sensors based on cold atom interferometry exhibit many interesting features for applications related to inertial navigation, particularly in terms of sensitivity and long-term stability. However, at present the typical atom interferometer is still very much an experiment—consisting of a bulky, static apparatus with a limited dynamic range and high sensitivity to environmental effects. To be compliant with mobile applications further development is needed. In this work, we present a compact and mobile experiment, which we recently used to achieve the first inertial measurements with an atomic accelerometer onboard an aircraft. By integrating classical inertial sensors into our apparatus, we are able to operate the atomic sensor well beyond its standard operating range, corresponding to half of an interference fringe. We report atom-based acceleration measurements along both the horizontal and vertical axes of the aircraft with one-shot sensitivities of 2.3 × 10−4 g over a range of ∼ 0.1 g. The same technology can be used to develop cold-atom gyroscopes, which could surpass the best optical gyroscopes in terms of long-term sensitivity. Our apparatus was also designed to study multi-axis atom interferometry with the goal of realizing a full inertial measurement unit comprised of the three axes of acceleration and rotation. Finally, we present a compact and tunable laser system, which constitutes an essential part of any cold-atom-based sensor. The architecture of the laser is based on phase modulating a single fiber-optic laser diode, and can be tuned over a range of 1 GHz in less than 200 μs.