Light-pulse atom interferometric device

DWPI Title: Apparatus for making inertial measurements, has detection system that is conformed to detect changes in population of metastable optically excited state
Abstract: An atomic interferometric device useful, e.g., for measuring acceleration or rotation is provided. The device comprises at least one vapor cell containing a Raman-active chemical species, an optical system, and at least one detector. The optical system is conformed to implement a Raman pulse interferometer in which Raman transitions are stimulated in a warm vapor of the Raman-active chemical species. The detector is conformed to detect changes in the populations of different internal states of atoms that have been irradiated by the optical system.
Use: Apparatus for making inertial measurements.
Advantage: The optical wavelength provides good sensitivity. The counter propagating pair of interferometers reduces the noise by rejecting background fluctuations and drift. The power requirements on the Raman laser are reduced.
Novelty: The apparatus has an atomic interferometer with vapor cell (5). A vapor source situated within vapor cell and conformed to provide a warm atomic vapor of the chemical species. A Raman laser is controlled to irradiate the warm atomic vapor with optical pulses that stimulate Raman or single-photon transitions in atoms of the warm atomic vapor such that the metastable optically excited state is populated. A detection system conformed to detect changes in the population of the metastable optically excited state.
Filed: 3/13/2014
Application Number: US14208259A
Tech ID: SD 12437.1
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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