The theory of quantum levitators

TL;DR

This paper presents a unified theoretical framework for atomic clock and gravimeter devices based on atomic wave interference in levitation, providing analytical models and sensitivity analysis validated by simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analytical theory for quantum levitator-based clocks and gravimeters, confirming sensitivity improvements through multiple atomic wave interferences.

Findings

Analytical wave function derivation for atomic scattering

Sensitivity characterization for frequency and acceleration measurements

Validation of sensitivity enhancement through simulations

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.