Sensitivity of a Point-Source-Interferometry-Based Inertial Measurement Unit Employing Large Momentum Transfer and Launched Atoms

Abstract

We analyze theoretically the sensitivity of accelerometry and rotation sensing with a point source interferometer employing large momentum transfer (LMT) and present a design of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that can measure rotation around and acceleration along each of the three axes. In this design, the launching technique is used to realize the LMT process without the need to physically change directions of the Raman pulses, thus significantly simplifying the apparatus. We also describe an explicit scheme for such an IMU.

Keywords

• atom interferometry
• atomic inertial measurement unit
• point source interferometer
• large momentum transfer
• quantum sensing