Modeling Atom Interferometry Using Wigner Distributions

Abstract

The Navy is interested in obtaining alternate methods of navigation for Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environments, and one candidate is precision inertial navigation using atom interferometers. A good method of modeling the behavior of a group of atoms in an interferometer is to use the Wigner distribution. In atom interferometry, the distribution of a set of atoms starts with a well-defined distribution in position and momentum space (usually Gaussian), but their positions spread more rapidly than their momenta, forming an ellipse in phase (Wigner) space. However, this ellipse can rotate as it propagates, revealing new quantum phenomena. This project models the behavior of an atom in an interferometer and investigates the underlying physics of the Wigner ellipse rotation. Although no discoveries were made, the Wigner phase space model succinctly communicates the dynamics of the atoms inside the interferometer.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2021
Accession Number
AD1150883

Entities

People

  • Jon R. Campau

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Angular Momentum
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Frequency
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Gravitational Fields
  • Ground State
  • Laser Pulses
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Navigation
  • Optical Interferometers
  • Probability
  • Probability Distributions
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Schools
  • Schrodinger Equation
  • United States Naval Academy
  • Wave Functions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics

Technology Areas

  • Quantum Computing
  • Space