The theory of quantum levitators

Abstract

We develop a unified theory for clocks and gravimeters using the interferences of multiple atomic waves put in levitation by traveling light pulses. Inspired by optical methods, we exhibit a propagation invariant, which enables to derive analytically the wave function of the sample scattering on the light pulse sequence. A complete characterization of the device sensitivity with respect to frequency or to acceleration measurements is obtained. These results agree with previous numerical simulations and confirm the conjecture of sensitivity improvement through multiple atomic wave interferences. A realistic experimental implementation for such clock architecture is discussed.

11 pages, 6 Figures. Minor typos corrected. Final version

References in corpus (4)

• Sr lattice clock at 1x10^{-16} fractional uncertainty by remote optical evaluation with a Ca clock
• Bose-Einstein condensation of alkaline earth atoms: ${}^{40}${Ca}
• All-Optical Formation of Quantum Degenerate Mixtures
• Improved frequency measurement of a one-dimensional optical lattice clock with a spin-polarized fermionic ${}^{87}$Sr isotope