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High data-rate atom interferometers through high recapture efficiency

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1168681
An inertial sensing system includes a magneto-optical trap (MOT) that traps atoms within a specified trapping region. The system also includes a cooling laser that cools the trapped atoms so that the atoms remain within the specified region for a specified amount of time. The system further includes a light-pulse atom interferometer (LPAI) that performs an interferometric interrogation of the atoms to determine phase changes in the atoms. The system includes a controller that controls the timing of MOT and cooling laser operations, and controls the timing of interferometric operations to substantially recapture the atoms in the specified trapping region. The system includes a processor that determines the amount inertial movement of the inertial sensing system based on the determined phase changes in the atoms. Also, a method of inertial sensing using this inertial sensing system includes recapture of atoms within the MOT following interferometric interrogation by the LPAI.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albequerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
8,941,053
Application Number:
13/592,029
OSTI ID:
1168681
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

A compact dual atom interferometer gyroscope based on laser-cooled rubidium journal May 2009
Light pulse atom interferometry at short interrogation times journal January 2011

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