Multiaxis atom interferometry with a single diode laser and a pyramidal magneto-optical trap

TL;DR

This paper presents a simplified multiaxis atom interferometer using a single diode laser and a pyramidal mirror, capable of measuring acceleration, rotation, and inclination with high sensitivity, advancing portable inertial sensing technologies.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a compact, versatile atom interferometer that uses only one diode laser and a pyramidal mirror to perform multiple inertial measurements simultaneously.

Findings

Achieved high sensitivity in measuring gravity, rotation, and inclination.

Implemented Doppler-sensitive Raman transitions without velocity selection.

Reduced systematic effects by zero differential AC Stark shift.

Abstract

Atom interferometry has become one of the most powerful technologies for precision measurements. To develop simple, precise, and versatile atom interferometers for inertial sensing, we demonstrate an atom interferometer measuring acceleration, rotation, and inclination by pointing Raman beams toward individual faces of a pyramidal mirror. Only a single diode laser is used for all functions, including atom trapping, interferometry, and detection. Efficient Doppler-sensitive Raman transitions are achieved without the velocity selecting the atom sample, and with zero differential AC Stark shift between the cesium hyperfine ground states, increasing signal-to-noise and suppressing systematic effects. We measure gravity along two axes (vertical and 45$^\circ$ to the vertical), rotation, and inclination with sensitivities of 6$\,\mu$m/s$^2/\sqrt{\rm Hz}$, 300$\,\mu$rad/s/$\sqrt{\rm Hz}$, and 4$\,\mu$rad/$\sqrt{\rm Hz}$, respectively. This work paves the way toward deployable multiaxis atom interferometers for geodesy, geology, or inertial navigation.