Asymmetric Talbot-Lau interferometry for inertial sensing

TL;DR

This paper investigates an asymmetric Talbot-Lau interferometer configuration for inertial sensing, emphasizing its potential in antimatter gravity experiments and comparing it with classical methods.

Contribution

It introduces and analyzes a novel asymmetric interferometer setup, highlighting its advantages for precise inertial measurements and antimatter gravity research.

Findings

Demonstrates the setup's sensitivity to inertial effects.

Shows potential for antimatter gravitational acceleration measurements.

Provides numerical simulations supporting experimental feasibility.

Abstract

We study in detail a peculiar configuration of the Talbot-Lau matter wave interferometer, characterised by unequal distances between the two diffraction gratings and the observation plane. We refer to this apparatus as the "asymmetric Talbot-Lau setup". Particular attention is given to its capabilities as an inertial sensor for particle and atomic beams, also in comparison with the classical moir\'e deflectometer. The present analysis is motivated by possible experimental applications in the context of antimatter wave interferometry, including the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of antimatter particles. To support our findings, we have performed numerical simulations of realistic particle beams with varying speed distributions.