Issue Eur. Phys. J. D Volume 53, Number 3, June II 2009 Page(s) 273 - 281 Section Atomic Physics DOI 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00139-0 Published online 01 May 2009

Eur. Phys. J. D 53, 273-281 (2009)
DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00139-0

A compact dual atom interferometer gyroscope based on laser-cooled rubidium

T. Müller, M. Gilowski, M. Zaiser, P. Berg, Ch. Schubert, T. Wendrich, W. Ertmer and E.M. Rasel

Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany

gilowski@iqo.uni-hannover.de

Received 22 May 2008 / Received in final form 27 February 2009 / Published online 1st May 2009

Abstract
We present a compact and transportable inertial sensor for precision sensing of rotations and accelerations. The sensor consists of a dual atom interferometer operated with laser-cooled ⁸⁷Rb. Raman processes are employed to coherently manipulate the matter waves. We describe and characterize the experimental apparatus. A method for passing from a compact geometry to an extended interferometer with three independent atom-light interaction zones is proposed and investigated. The extended geometry will enhance the sensitivity by more than two orders of magnitude which is necessary to achieve sensitivities better than rad/s/ .

PACS
03.75.Dg - Atom and neutron interferometry.
37.25.+k - Atom interferometry techniques.
06.30.Gv - Velocity, acceleration, and rotation.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2009

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