Enhancing the area of a Raman atom interferometer using a versatile double-diffraction technique

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile double-diffraction technique for Raman atom interferometers that enhances their area and sensitivity by achieving symmetric momentum splitting, applicable to various atomic sources.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel Raman transition scheme combining Raman and Bragg diffraction, enabling symmetric momentum splitting and area enhancement in atom interferometers.

Findings

Achieved a 4ħk symmetric momentum splitting in a Raman interferometer.

Extended the scheme to 8ħk momentum transfer using multipulse sequences.

Demonstrated increased sensitivity by measuring inertial forces.

Abstract

IIn this paper we demonstrate a new scheme for Raman transitions which realize a symmetric momentum-space splitting of $4 \hbar k$, deflecting the atomic wave-packets into the same internal state. Combining the advantages of Raman and Bragg diffraction, we achieve a three pulse state labelled interferometer, intrinsically insensitive to the main systematics and applicable to all kind of atomic sources. This splitting scheme can be extended to $4N \hbar k$ momentum transfer by a multipulse sequence and is implemented on a $8 \hbar k$ interferometer. We demonstrate the area enhancement by measuring inertial forces.