Inertial quantum sensing with Bose-Einstein condensates

by Ernst M. Rasel

Leibniz University Hannover

at Physics Colloquium

Mon, 25 Oct 2021, 16:10
Zoom

Abstract

Interferometry with Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs) appears to be one of the most promising pathways for future matter wave interferometry and its application in metrology, fundamental physics, and last but not least in inertial sensing and gravimetry. Matter wave interferometers with laser cooled atoms surpass today’s classical gravimeters in long term stability and reach uncertainties of a few 10^(-8) m/s^2. Based on the ground breaking developments creating atom chips, especially, by J. Schmiedmayer, R. Folmann, J. Reichel and T. Hänsch, we developed methods to achieve miniaturized sources with a high flux of BECs, and tackled the detrimental influence of the mean-field energy. Benefiting from those developments, interferometers employing delta-kick collimated BECs make premises to exceed the state-of-the-art in several ways. They should perform with an uncertainty reduced by at least one order of magnitude due to the better control of the atomic ensemble. The extremely low effective temperatures allow for innovative methods to coherently manipulate the atoms giving rise to new interferometers for improving state-of-the-art gyroscopes, quantum tilt meters, gravimeters or gradiometers, generally, all inertial sensors. Moreover, the compactness of atom-chip based sources prepares the ground for radical miniaturization. This enables space-borne sensing, where the extended free fall shall improve the precision by several orders of magnitude with respect to present terrestrial interferometers. The successful creation of Rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate and demonstration of BEC interferometry in space pave the way for space-borne BEC interferometry.

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Created on 16-10-2021 by Kats, Yevgeny (katsye)
Updaded on 20-10-2021 by Kats, Yevgeny (katsye)