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

Physical Review Research

Accurate and efficient Bloch-oscillation-enhanced atom interferometry

Florian Fitzek, Jan-Niclas Kirsten-Siemß, Ernst Maria Rasel, Naceur Gaaloul, Klemens Hammerer

Published Aug 5, 2024• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Bloch oscillations of atoms in optical lattices are a powerful technique that can dramatically boost the sensitivity of atom interferometers to a wide range of signals by large momentum transfer. To leverage this method to its full potential, an accurate theoretical description of losses and phases is required, going beyond existing treatments. Here, we present a comprehensive theoretical framework for Bloch-oscillation-enhanced atom interferometry and verify its accuracy through comparison with a numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. Our approach establishes design criteria to reach the fundamental efficiency and accuracy limits of large momentum transfer using Bloch oscillations and allows us, in a broader context, to define the fundamental efficiency limit of the transport of neutral atoms using optical lattices. We compare these limits to the capabilities of current state-of-the-art experiments and make projections for the next generation of quantum sensors. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.6.l032028

Related papers

Accurate and efficient Bloch-oscillation-enhanced atom interferometry

Florian Fitzek, Jan-Niclas Kirsten-Siemß, Ernst Maria Rasel +2 more

Bloch oscillations of atoms in optical lattices are a powerful technique that can boost the sensitivity of atom interferometers to a wide range of signals by large momentum transfer. To leverage this method to its full potential, an accurate theoretical description of losses and phases is needed going beyond existing treatments. Here, we present a comprehensive theoretical framework for Bloch-oscillation-enhanced atom interferometry and verify its accuracy through comparison with an exact numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. Our approach establishes design criteria to reach the fundamental efficiency and accuracy limits of large momentum transfer using Bloch oscillations. We compare these limits to the case of current state-of-the-art experiments and make projections for the next generation of quantum sensors.

arXiv:2306.09399•Jun 15, 2023•1 citation

Fundamental Limits of Large Momentum Transfer in Optical Lattices

Ashkan Alibabaei, Patrik Mönkeberg, Florian Fitzek +5 more

Large-momentum-transfer techniques are instrumental for the next generation of atom interferometers as they significantly improve their sensitivity. State-of-the-art implementations rely on elastic scattering processes from optical lattices such as Bloch oscillations or sequential Bragg diffraction, but their performance is constrained by imperfect pulse efficiencies. Here we develop a Floquet-based theoretical framework that provides a unified description of elastic light-atom scattering across all relevant regimes. Within this formalism, we identify practical regimes that exhibit orders of magnitude reduced losses and improved phase accuracy compared to previous implementations. The model's validity is established through direct comparison with numerical solutions of the Schrödinger equation and through quantitative agreement with recent experimental benchmark results. These findings delineate previously unexplored operating regimes for large momentum transfer beam splitters and open new perspectives for precision atom-interferometric measurements in fundamental physics, gravity gradiometry or gravitational wave detection.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2602.00365•Feb 3, 2026•0 citations

Bloch oscillation phases investigated by multipath Stückelberg atom interferometry

Tahiyat Rahman, Anna Wirth-Singh, Andrew Ivanov +3 more

Atoms undergoing Bloch oscillations (BOs) in an accelerating optical lattice acquire momentum of two photon recoils per BO. This technique provides a large momentum transfer tool for atom optics, but its full exploitation for atom interferometric sensors requires both experimental and theoretical characterization of associated phases. Each BO involves a Landau-Zener crossing with multiple crossings inducing interference known as Stückelberg interference. We develop a multipath Stückelberg interferometer and investigate atomic phase evolution during BOs, up to 100 photon recoil momentum transfer. We compare to numerically calculated single-particle Schrödinger evolution, demonstrate highly coherent BO sequences, and assess phase stability requirements for BO-enhanced precision interferometry in fundamental physics and sensing applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

arXiv:2308.04134•Physical Review Research•Apr 15, 2024•9 citations

Deep-Lattice Bloch-Band Interferometry for Inertial Sensing

Christian Ordetx

Atom interferometers exploit the wave nature of matter to measure inertial forces with high precision, but conventional light-pulse implementations typically require large free-fall distances and complex optical systems. Bloch-band interferometry offers an alternative architecture in which atoms remain confined within an optical lattice and interferometric operations are implemented through controlled transitions between Bloch bands. This thesis investigates Bloch-band interferometry with particular emphasis on robustness to phase decoherence and operation in the deep-lattice regime. The work begins with multi-well models that provide intuition for tunneling, interference, and phase coherence. Phase scrambling was introduced to model loss of coherence, demonstrating that interference contrast is reduced but not eliminated. These insights motivated a full momentum-space simulation of a Bloch-band Michelson interferometer, including splitting, transport, reflection, and recombination. Acceleration scans with site-to-site phase randomness showed that interferometric fringes and sensitivity persist even with reduced coherence. Building on this robustness, Bloch-band interferometry was extended to a deep optical lattice with depth of 27 times the recoil energy. Higher Bloch bands were used to define interferometric pathways, and machine-learned shaking functions were implemented to realize beamsplitter and mirror operations. The resulting deep-lattice interferometer exhibits acceleration-dependent population fringes and measurable sensitivity. To our knowledge, this work presents the first exploration of Bloch-band interferometry in the deep-lattice regime and demonstrates the first realization of a deep-lattice Bloch-band interferometer for inertial sensing. These results suggest that Bloch-band interferometry can remain operational in regimes approaching the insulating limit, providing a potential route toward compact and robust quantum inertial sensors.

•Jan 7, 2026•0 citations

Demonstration of a programmable optical lattice atom interferometer

Catie LeDesma, Kendall Mehling, Jieqiu Shao +5 more

Performing interferometry in an optical lattice formed by standing waves of light offers potential advantages over its free-space equivalents since the atoms can be confined and manipulated by the optical potential. We demonstrate such an interferometer in a one-dimensional lattice and show the ability to control the atoms by imaging and reconstructing the wave function at many stages during its cycle. An acceleration signal is applied, and the resulting performance is seen to be close to the optimum possible for the time-space area enclosed according to quantum theory. Our methodology of machine design enables the sensor to be reconfigurable on the fly, and when scaled up, offers the potential to make state-of-the art inertial and gravitational sensors that will have a wide range of potential applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

arXiv:2305.17603•Physical Review Research•Nov 8, 2024•23 citations

A faster scaling in acceleration-sensitive atom interferometers

Gordon McDonald, C. C. N. Kuhn, Shayne Bennetts +4 more

Atom interferometers have been used to measure acceleration with at best a $T^2$ 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 $T^3$. 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 straight forward extension should allow a $T^4$ scaling in acceleration sensitivity.

arXiv:1311.2143•Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Mar 1, 2014•27 citations
Bloch oscillations of atoms in optical lattices are a powerful technique that can dramatically boost the sensitivity of atom interferometers to a wide range of signals by large momentum transfer. To leverage this method to its full potential, an accurate theoretical description of losses and phases is required, going beyond existing treatments. Here, we present a comprehensive theoretical framework for Bloch-oscillation-enhanced atom interferometry and verify its accuracy through comparison with a numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. Our approach establishes design criteria to reach the fundamental efficiency and accuracy limits of large momentum transfer using Bloch oscillations and allows us, in a broader context, to define the fundamental efficiency limit of the transport of neutral atoms using optical lattices. We compare these limits to the capabilities of current state-of-the-art experiments and make projections for the next generation of quantum sensors. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Bloch oscillations of atoms in optical lattices are a powerful technique that can boost the sensitivity of atom interferometers to a wide range of signals by large momentum transfer. To leverage this method to its full potential, an accurate theoretical description of losses and phases is needed going beyond existing treatments. Here, we present a comprehensive theoretical framework for Bloch-oscillation-enhanced atom interferometry and verify its accuracy through comparison with an exact numerical solution of the Schrödinger equation. Our approach establishes design criteria to reach the fundamental efficiency and accuracy limits of large momentum transfer using Bloch oscillations. We compare these limits to the case of current state-of-the-art experiments and make projections for the next generation of quantum sensors.
Large-momentum-transfer techniques are instrumental for the next generation of atom interferometers as they significantly improve their sensitivity. State-of-the-art implementations rely on elastic scattering processes from optical lattices such as Bloch oscillations or sequential Bragg diffraction, but their performance is constrained by imperfect pulse efficiencies. Here we develop a Floquet-based theoretical framework that provides a unified description of elastic light-atom scattering across all relevant regimes. Within this formalism, we identify practical regimes that exhibit orders of magnitude reduced losses and improved phase accuracy compared to previous implementations. The model's validity is established through direct comparison with numerical solutions of the Schrödinger equation and through quantitative agreement with recent experimental benchmark results. These findings delineate previously unexplored operating regimes for large momentum transfer beam splitters and open new perspectives for precision atom-interferometric measurements in fundamental physics, gravity gradiometry or gravitational wave detection.
Atoms undergoing Bloch oscillations (BOs) in an accelerating optical lattice acquire momentum of two photon recoils per BO. This technique provides a large momentum transfer tool for atom optics, but its full exploitation for atom interferometric sensors requires both experimental and theoretical characterization of associated phases. Each BO involves a Landau-Zener crossing with multiple crossings inducing interference known as Stückelberg interference. We develop a multipath Stückelberg interferometer and investigate atomic phase evolution during BOs, up to 100 photon recoil momentum transfer. We compare to numerically calculated single-particle Schrödinger evolution, demonstrate highly coherent BO sequences, and assess phase stability requirements for BO-enhanced precision interferometry in fundamental physics and sensing applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Atom interferometers exploit the wave nature of matter to measure inertial forces with high precision, but conventional light-pulse implementations typically require large free-fall distances and complex optical systems. Bloch-band interferometry offers an alternative architecture in which atoms remain confined within an optical lattice and interferometric operations are implemented through controlled transitions between Bloch bands. This thesis investigates Bloch-band interferometry with particular emphasis on robustness to phase decoherence and operation in the deep-lattice regime. The work begins with multi-well models that provide intuition for tunneling, interference, and phase coherence. Phase scrambling was introduced to model loss of coherence, demonstrating that interference contrast is reduced but not eliminated. These insights motivated a full momentum-space simulation of a Bloch-band Michelson interferometer, including splitting, transport, reflection, and recombination. Acceleration scans with site-to-site phase randomness showed that interferometric fringes and sensitivity persist even with reduced coherence. Building on this robustness, Bloch-band interferometry was extended to a deep optical lattice with depth of 27 times the recoil energy. Higher Bloch bands were used to define interferometric pathways, and machine-learned shaking functions were implemented to realize beamsplitter and mirror operations. The resulting deep-lattice interferometer exhibits acceleration-dependent population fringes and measurable sensitivity. To our knowledge, this work presents the first exploration of Bloch-band interferometry in the deep-lattice regime and demonstrates the first realization of a deep-lattice Bloch-band interferometer for inertial sensing. These results suggest that Bloch-band interferometry can remain operational in regimes approaching the insulating limit, providing a potential route toward compact and robust quantum inertial sensors.
Performing interferometry in an optical lattice formed by standing waves of light offers potential advantages over its free-space equivalents since the atoms can be confined and manipulated by the optical potential. We demonstrate such an interferometer in a one-dimensional lattice and show the ability to control the atoms by imaging and reconstructing the wave function at many stages during its cycle. An acceleration signal is applied, and the resulting performance is seen to be close to the optimum possible for the time-space area enclosed according to quantum theory. Our methodology of machine design enables the sensor to be reconfigurable on the fly, and when scaled up, offers the potential to make state-of-the art inertial and gravitational sensors that will have a wide range of potential applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Atom interferometers have been used to measure acceleration with at best a T2T^2T2 scaling in sensitivity as the interferometer time TTT 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 T3T^3T3. 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 straight forward extension should allow a T4T^4T4 scaling in acceleration sensitivity.