Evaluation of microchip atom interferometer designs for precision inertial-navigation systems

Bose-Einstein condensates in magnetic traps and waveguides produced by microfabricated structures hold great promise for new quantum devices exploiting atomic matter waves, such as interferometers for precise measurements of rotation and acceleration. The major objectives of Phase I will be to research sources of decoherence, environmental noises and errors, and based on this research, find the most promising designs of a suitable platforms which will efficiently employ potential of autonomous high precision navigation using cold atom interferometry on microfabricated chips. The goal is to develop a prototype based on the most promising design of sensor platform from Phase I. Phase I will (1) estimate the performance of possible interferometer designs; (2) compare dc bias magnetic field and rf potential interferometers; (3) evaluate rotation vs. acceleration sensing; (4) estimate and analyze how the interferometer performance converts into navigation sensor parameters; (5) identify the most critical interferometer design parameters; (6) identify measurements for Phase II experiments; and (7) develop plan for further analysis and a prototype development in Phase II. The project team includes Professor Vladan Vuletic, Lester Wolfe Associate Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).