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Interféromètre atomique en rotation pour l'accélérométrie quantique embarquée

Quentin d’Armagnac de Castanet

Published Nov 23, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Classical inertial navigation systems integrate inertial measurements from triads of accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine their position, but the computed trajectory is typically limited by the intrinsic time-varying bias of these inertial sensors. In addition, the exploitation of quantum physics led to the development of matter-wave interferometers, sensitive to inertial effects due to the mass of the atoms. While they are free-falling, these atoms constitute a perfect inertial frame of reference and allow for an absolute measurement with outstanding accuracy and stability. Substantial technical developments have allowed bringing quantum gravimeters to the market, enabling static, long-term measurements. Nevertheless, the use of cold-atom sensors for navigation and positioning still requires addressing many scientific and technological challenges to be compatible with onboard applications such as compactness, measurement continuity and operation in the presence of strong vibrations and rotations.The Joint Laboratory iXAtom brings together the expertise of the Laboratoire de Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N) in matter-wave interferometry and the French technology company Exail, specialized in high-performance inertial navigation systems and industrial quantum sensors, with the aim of building a new generation of high-end inertial sensors through the hybridization of classical accelerometers and gyroscopes with quantum sensors based on matter-wave interferometry.After successfully building a multi-axis cold-atom interferometer measuring the three components of the acceleration vector with a static apparatus, this quantum inertial sensor has been fully hybridized with a triad of classical accelerometers, increasing the bandwidth and dynamic range without the usual limitation due to the bias drift of the mechanical accelerometers. Moreover, this hybridization technique features a real-time correction of the laser phase which allows retrieving the acceleration information out of atomic fringes scrambled by parasitic vibrations. As regards the rotations of the instrument throughout an interferometer, their compensation remains the next major issue to tackle for strapdown applications as they induce a drastic reduction of the atomic fringes’ visibility coupled to a scrambling of the interferometric phase shift.This thesis work focuses on the mitigation of the rotation-induced performance deterioration of the hybrid accelerometer. Through a theoretical investigation, a model for both the angular velocity-dependent decay of the fringes contrast and the systematic phase shift arising from the complex trajectory of the atomic cloud in the rotating frame of the interrogation laser is established. A real-time rotation compensation system, employing the measurement of the rotation rate with high-end fiber-optic gyroscopes to drive a piezo-actuated tip-tilt platform, has been implemented to stabilize the orientation of the interrogation laser in the external frame in order to preserve the contrast of the atomic interference pattern and extend the measurement range of the rotating atom interferometer. A rectification of the theoretical model accounting for the rotation of the laser as well as the hybridization with the classical accelerometers enables reconstructing the atomic fringes and retrieving the inertial measurement, paving the way for strapdown onboard hybrid accelerometry.

DOI
10.70675/674baf3dz57f0z4af9zb04fz0f6725eeb005

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Classical inertial navigation systems integrate inertial measurements from triads of accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine their position, but the computed trajectory is typically limited by the intrinsic time-varying bias of these inertial sensors. In addition, the exploitation of quantum physics led to the development of matter-wave interferometers, sensitive to inertial effects due to the mass of the atoms. While they are free-falling, these atoms constitute a perfect inertial frame of reference and allow for an absolute measurement with outstanding accuracy and stability. Substantial technical developments have allowed bringing quantum gravimeters to the market, enabling static, long-term measurements. Nevertheless, the use of cold-atom sensors for navigation and positioning still requires addressing many scientific and technological challenges to be compatible with onboard applications such as compactness, measurement continuity and operation in the presence of strong vibrations and rotations.The Joint Laboratory iXAtom brings together the expertise of the Laboratoire de Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N) in matter-wave interferometry and the French technology company Exail, specialized in high-performance inertial navigation systems and industrial quantum sensors, with the aim of building a new generation of high-end inertial sensors through the hybridization of classical accelerometers and gyroscopes with quantum sensors based on matter-wave interferometry.After successfully building a multi-axis cold-atom interferometer measuring the three components of the acceleration vector with a static apparatus, this quantum inertial sensor has been fully hybridized with a triad of classical accelerometers, increasing the bandwidth and dynamic range without the usual limitation due to the bias drift of the mechanical accelerometers. Moreover, this hybridization technique features a real-time correction of the laser phase which allows retrieving the acceleration information out of atomic fringes scrambled by parasitic vibrations. As regards the rotations of the instrument throughout an interferometer, their compensation remains the next major issue to tackle for strapdown applications as they induce a drastic reduction of the atomic fringes’ visibility coupled to a scrambling of the interferometric phase shift.This thesis work focuses on the mitigation of the rotation-induced performance deterioration of the hybrid accelerometer. Through a theoretical investigation, a model for both the angular velocity-dependent decay of the fringes contrast and the systematic phase shift arising from the complex trajectory of the atomic cloud in the rotating frame of the interrogation laser is established. A real-time rotation compensation system, employing the measurement of the rotation rate with high-end fiber-optic gyroscopes to drive a piezo-actuated tip-tilt platform, has been implemented to stabilize the orientation of the interrogation laser in the external frame in order to preserve the contrast of the atomic interference pattern and extend the measurement range of the rotating atom interferometer. A rectification of the theoretical model accounting for the rotation of the laser as well as the hybridization with the classical accelerometers enables reconstructing the atomic fringes and retrieving the inertial measurement, paving the way for strapdown onboard hybrid accelerometry.
Robust and accurate acceleration tracking remains a challenge in many fields. For geophysics and economic geology, precise gravity mapping requires onboard sensors combined with accurate positioning and navigation systems. Cold atom–based quantum inertial sensors can potentially provide these high-precision instruments. However, current scalar instruments require precise alignment with vector quantities. Here, we present the first hybrid three-axis accelerometer exploiting the quantum advantage to measure the full acceleration vector by combining three orthogonal atom interferometer measurements with a classical navigation-grade accelerometer triad. Its ultralow bias permits tracking the acceleration vector over long time scales, yielding a 50-fold improvement in stability (6 × 10 −8 g ) over our classical accelerometers. We record the acceleration vector at a high data rate (1 kHz), with absolute magnitude accuracy below 10 μ g , and pointing accuracy of 4 μrad. This paves the way toward future strapdown applications with quantum sensors and highlights their potential as future inertial navigation units.
Matter-wave interferometry has enabled high precision measurements of inertial forces such as gravity and the Coriolis force. This is facilitated by the long-term stability of the physical properties of atoms and lasers. Recent experiments have demonstrated the operation of portable, robust sensors using atom interferometry. This has potential uses in the context of inertial navigation, where conventional devices suffer from long-term drifts due to bias instability. Furthermore, determining position via dead reckoning requires minimisation of dead time between measurements. This thesis presents the development of an atom interferometer for measuring horizontal accelerations. In this configuration, gravity induces motion across the laser wavefront, which constrains the tolerable level of wavefront distortions. Effective control of the experiment allows the interferometer to be operated at a rate of 4 Hz. A cold ensemble of 10^6 atoms in the same internal state is prepared in 150 ms. The interferometer operates using a sequence of three laser pulses separated by T= 25 ms to achieve sensitivity to horizontal accelerations. Combining this with a classical accelerometer provides a method of correcting for vibration-induced noise, as well as determining the interferometer fringe order. After an integration time of 40 s, the sensitivity to horizontal accelerations is better than 3^-6 m s^-2. Effects which limit this sensitivity are discussed.
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.
Rotating atom interferometer for onboard quantum accelerometry Les systèmes de navigation inertielle intègrent les mesures de triades d’accéléromètres et gyromètres afin de déterminer leur position, mais la trajectoire déterminée est typiquement limitée par le biais variable dans le temps de ces capteurs inertiels. D’autre part, l’exploitation de la physique quantique a permis le développement d’interféromètres à ondes de matière, sensibles aux effets inertiels grâce à la masse des atomes. Lorsqu’ils sont en chute libre, ces atomes constituent un référentiel Galiléen idéal et délivrent une mesure absolue avec une exactitude et une stabilité remarquables. De considérables développements techniques ont permis le transfert technologique de gravimètres quantiques vers l’industrie, réalisant des mesures de longue durée en statique. Cependant, l’utilisation de capteurs à atomes froids pour la navigation et le positionnement nécessite de répondre à certains enjeux scientifiques et technologiques afin d’être compatible avec les applications embarquées tels que la compacité, la continuité de mesure et le fonctionnement dans des environnements difficiles.Le laboratoire commun iXAtom unit l’expertise du Laboratoire de Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N) en interférométrie à ondes de matière et celle de l’entreprise française Exail dans les systèmes de navigation inertielle et capteurs quantiques industriels afin de construire une nouvelle génération de capteurs inertiels de haute performance grâce à l’hybridation d’accéléromètres et de gyromètres classiques avec des capteurs quantiques basés sur l’interférométrie à ondes de matière.Après avoir réussi à construire un interféromètre multiaxe à atomes froids mesurant les trois composantes du vecteur accélération en statique, ce capteur inertiel quantique a été hybridé avec une triade d’accéléromètres classiques, augmentant la bande passante et la dynamique de mesure sans souffrir de la contrainte liée à la dérive du biais des accéléromètres classiques. Par ailleurs, cette hybridation inclut une correction de la phase laser en temps réel, permettant d’extraire la mesure d’accélération à partir de franges atomiques brouillées par les vibrations parasites. En ce qui concerne les rotations de l’instrument au cours d’un interféromètre, leur compensation demeure l’enjeu principal restant à aborder pour réaliser un capteur solidaire d’un véhicule puisqu’elles entraînent une réduction de la visibilité des franges atomiques couplée à un brouillage du déphasage interférométrique.Le travail de cette thèse porte sur la résolution de la dégradation des performances de l’accéléromètre hybride induite par les rotations. Une étude théorique a permis d’établir un modèle théorique de la chute de contraste entraînée par des vitesses angulaires ainsi que des déphasages parasites résultant de la trajectoire complexe du nuage atomique dans le référentiel tournant du faisceau laser. Finalement, un système de compensation des rotations en temps réel utilise la mesure de vitesses angulaires par des gyroscopes à fibre optique afin de piloter une plateforme rotative piézo-électrique et ainsi stabiliser l’orientation du faisceau laser dans le référentiel externe dans le but de préserver le contraste des franges interférométriques et d’accroître la plage de mesure de l’interféromètre atomique tournant. Une rectification du modèle théorique prenant en compte la rotation du laser et l’hybridation avec les accéléromètres classiques permet de reconstruire les franges atomiques et de recouvrer la mesure inertielle, ouvrant la voie à l’accélérométrie hybride embarquée non stabilisée.
The exquisite precision of atom interferometers has sparked the interest of a large community for uses ranging from fundamental physics to geodesy and inertial navigation. However, their implementation for onboard applications is still limited, not least because rotation and acceleration are intertwined in a single phase shift, which makes the extraction of a useful signal more challenging. Moreover, the spatial separation of the wave packets due to rotations leads to a loss of signal. We present an atom interferometer operating over a large range of random angles, rotation rates and accelerations. A model of the expected phase shift allows us to untangle the rotation and acceleration signals. We also implement a real-time compensation system using fiber-optic gyroscopes and a rotating reference mirror to maintain the full contrast of the interferometer. We demonstrate a single-shot sensitivity to acceleration of 24 μg for rotation rates reaching 14° s−1. Cold atoms inertial sensors offer great precision and sensitivity, yet their use in mobile applications has been hindered by the effects of rotations on their measurements. Here, authors demonstrate an atom interferometer operating over a wide range of orientations and rotation rates, thanks to hybridisation with accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Positioning currently relies heavily on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Combined with classical accelerometers and gyroscopes, precise determination of orientation and position at any given time become available. However, but the availability of GNSS (e.g. GPS) is limited and not guaranteed at all times.In this paper we present an alternative based on atom interferometry using cold atom ensembles. An inertial sensor based on cold atoms allows, in theory, for nearly drift-free measurements of inertial forces with accuracies unreached by classical sensors, but the technology is still locked away in large physics laboratories [1].This paper introduces a compact device called SECAMP, which is capable of cooling atoms down to μ-Kelvin. SECAMP has the potential to measure inertial acceleration in three degrees of freedom. In the following, we present the current experimental setup of the apparatus and outline the next steps for the inertial sensor.