Carrie Weidner (University of Colorado Boulder)
Shaken Lattice Interferometry
In this work, we report on results of interferometry using atoms trapped in an optical lattice. That is, we start with atoms in the ground state of a optical lattice potential V(x) = -\frac{V_0}{2} cos(2k_Lx) and by a prescribed phase modulation (“shaking”) function, transform from one momentum state to another. In this way, we implement the standard interferometric sequence of beam splitting, propagation, reflection, reverse propagation, and recombination. Through the use of a genetic algorithm [1], we computationally demonstrate a scalable accelerometer that provides information on the sign of the applied acceleration. The interferometer sensitivity is determined through the use of the classical Fisher information. Furthermore, we show that we can optimize the interferometer response to a signal of interest. In addition, we report on the experimental realization of the shaken lattice system. In particular, we demonstrate experimentally a shaken lattice interferometer where the optimization of the shaking function is done via a closed-loop optimal control algorithm [3]. We show the response of the system to an acceleration signal and first steps towards the optimization to a signal of interest [4]. Finally, we discuss progress towards scalability and improved sensitivity.
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- C.A. Weidner, et al. PRA 95, 043624, (2017).
- T. Caneva et al. PRA 84, 022326, (2011).
- C.A. Weidner and D.Z. Anderson, accepted for publication in PRL.