A time-orbiting potential trap can provide stable confinement for ultracold atoms. To lowest order the potential is harmonic, but it intrinsically includes anharominic contributions. These contributions are analyzed in terms of both the time-averaging mechanism and the inhomogeneity of the constituent fields. Methods to empirically characterize anharmonicity are developed and demonstrated.
We describe an implementation of a Sagnac interferometer using a Bose-Einstein condensate confined in a harmonic time-orbiting potential trap. Atoms are manipulated using Bragg laser beams to produce two reciprocal interferometers, providing common-mode rejection of accelerations, trap fluctuations, and most other effects. The Sagnac rotation phase is differential. The orbit of the atoms is nearly circular, with an effective Sagnac area of about 0.5 mm2.
KEYWORDS: Chemical species, Interferometers, Interferometry, Space operations, Magnetism, Global Positioning System, Time metrology, Free space, Raman spectroscopy, Visibility
The Cold Atom Laboratory is a multipurpose ultracold gas experiment currently being developed for operation on the international space station. It will have the ability to demonstrate proof-of-principle atom interferometry experiments in space. By using microgravity, atom interferometry has the potential to achieve extremely good performance in sensing and navigation applications. Terrestrial experiments can be used to explore potential challenges and prior to launch. One issue of concern is the release of cold atoms from a magnetic trap into free space. Although the atoms will not fall, they can acquire relatively large velocities due to technical limitations such as stray magnetic fields. This can limit the time available for measurements and thus the atom interferometer performance.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.