Ultra-Stable Matter-Wave Gyroscopy with Counter-Rotating Vortex Superpositions in Bose-Einstein Condensates

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel matter-wave gyroscope using vortex superpositions in Bose-Einstein Condensates, offering high stability and sensitivity based on the Sagnac effect, as an alternative to traditional atom interferometers.

Contribution

It introduces a new method for matter-wave gyroscopy utilizing optical angular momentum induced vortex superpositions in BECs, enhancing stability and readout simplicity.

Findings

Interference pattern rotation correlates with trap angular velocity

Device demonstrates high stability and ease of rotation rate measurement

Discussion of improved signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity

Abstract

Matter-wave interferometers are, in principle, orders of magnitude more sensitive than their optical counterparts. Nevertheless, creation of matter-wave currents to achieve such a sensitivity is a continuing challenge. Here, we propose the use of Optical Angular Momentum (OAM) induced vortex superpositions in Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs) as an alternative to atom interferometers for gyroscopy. The coherent superposition of two counter-rotating vortex states of a trapped condensate leads to an interference pattern that rotates by an angle proportional to the angular velocity of the rotating trap \mdash in accordance with the Sagnac effect. We show that the rotation rate can be easily read out and that the device is highly stable. The signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity of the scheme are also discussed.