| Abstract: | An inertial sensing system includes a magneto-optical trap (MOT) that
traps atoms within a specified trapping region. The system also includes
a cooling laser that cools the trapped atoms so that the atoms remain
within the specified region for a specified amount of time. The system
further includes a light-pulse atom interferometer (LPAI) that performs
an interferometric interrogation of the atoms to determine phase changes
in the atoms. The system includes a controller that controls the timing
of MOT and cooling laser operations, and controls the timing of
interferometric operations to substantially recapture the atoms in the
specified trapping region. The system includes a processor that
determines the amount inertial movement of the inertial sensing system
based on the determined phase changes in the atoms. Also, a method of
inertial sensing using this inertial sensing system includes recapture of
atoms within the MOT following interferometric interrogation by the LPAI. |