Atom interferometry for terrestrial & space-borne geodetic applications

Atom interferometry enables accurate measurements for long term observations of accelerations, inertial navigation, tilts, rotations, and for tests of fundamental physics. In these devices, three laser light pulses separated by a free evolution time coherently manipulate matter waves resembling the Mach-Zehnder geometry in optics. Atom gravimeters have demonstrated an uncertainty of few 10^-8 m/s², rotations sensors a noise floor of 100 (nrad/s)/Hz^1/2, and atom gradiometers a noise floor of 30 E Hz^-1/2. Significant enhancements of atom interferometers in accuarcy and noise floor are anticipated by the integration of novel source concepts providing a high flux of evaporated and well collimated atomic ensembles, extending the free fall time of the atoms, and enabling enhanced techniques for coherent manipulation. Furthermore, the hybridization of atom interferometers with high-bandwidth inertial sensors as well as guided interferometry within traps allows operation of the atom interferometer beyond its linear range in dynamic environments. Here we report on compact setups for mobile operation and large-scale devices for highest performance and show sensor fusion with novel, highly compact opto-mechanical resonators.

The presented work is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, CRC 1128 geo-Q, CRC 1227 DQ-mat, the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) (Grant No. 50WM1641 & 50WM1552-1557), and through the Quantum- and Nano-Metrology (QUANOMET) initiative.