Quantum Adiabatic Interferometry
Abstract
This projects supports the development of a new approach to trapped-atom interferometry, named quantum adiabatic interferometry, and its application toward precise sensing of acceleration, rotation, and other effects. The project is divided into three main tasks. First, project researchers will develop advanced optical systems for producing optical box potentials, in which atoms are trapped in a dark, un-illuminated volume, while being surrounded with a "wall" of high intensity light. When this light is blue-detuned from atomic transitions, these walls confine the atoms in the dark volume, within which they experience no potential energy variations or other disturbances from the trapping light. A goal of this task is to produce box potentials with high contrast of light intensity between the trapping volume and the optical walls, to confirm that optical trapping can be performed with light close to atomic resonance, thereby reducing the optical power requirements, and to develop optical systems with a small footprint in terms of size, weight and power. A second task is to provide a near-perfect microgravity environment for trapped atoms within stationary on-Earth setups. For this, a precise electromagnet set, to provide a magnetic field gradient whose force on atoms cancels the gravitational force, will be modeled, wound, tested, and demonstrated to produce residual accelerations at the micro-g level. The third task is to demonstrate long-lived coherence in a box-trap atom interferometer, in which a quantum-coherent gas of atoms is adiabatically divided into two separate containers, allowed to evolve freely for variable time, and then used for phase-sensitive matter-wave interference. An overall goal of the project is to demonstrate all the necessary techniques and principles to use quantum adiabatic interferometers for inertial sensing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010090
Entities
People
- Dan Stamper-Kurn
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- University of California, Berkeley