Limits to the sensitivity of a low noise compact atomic gravimeter

Abstract

A detailed analysis of the most relevant sources of phase noise in an atomic interferometer is carried out, both theoretically and experimentally. Even a short interrogation time of 100 ms allows our cold atom gravimeter to reach an excellent short term sensitivity to acceleration of $1.4\times 10^{-8}$g at 1s. This result relies on the combination of a low phase noise laser system, efficient detection scheme and good shielding from vibrations. In particular, we describe a simple and robust technique of vibration compensation, which is based on correcting the interferometer signal by using the AC acceleration signal measured by a low noise seismometer.

30 pages, 14 figures

References in corpus (4)

• 6-axis inertial sensor using cold-atom interferometry
• Atom Interferometry tests of the isotropy of post-Newtonian gravity
• Interference-filter-stabilized external-cavity diode lasers
• Influence of lasers propagation delay on the sensitivity of atom interferometers

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• Precision atomic gravimeter based on Bragg diffraction
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• Comparison between two mobile absolute gravimeters: optical versus atomic interferometers
• Operating an atom interferometer beyond its linear range
• Testing the universality of free fall with rubidium and ytterbium in a very large baseline atom interferometer
• Off-resonant Raman transitions impact in an atom interferometer
• A simple laser system for atom interferometry
• Wide bandwidth phase-locked diode laser with an intra-cavity electro-optic modulator
• Comparison of 3 absolute gravimeters based on different methods for the e-MASS project
• A compact micro-wave synthesizer for transportable cold-atom interferometers