Differential atom interferometry and velocity selection using the clock transition of strontium atoms for AION

AION 中使用锶原子时钟跃迁的微分原子干涉测量和速度选择

基本信息

批准号：
ST/W006626/1
负责人：
Christopher Foot
金额：
$ 11.16万
依托单位：
University of Oxford
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2022
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2022 至无数据
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FW006626%2F1
关键词：
Differential atom interferometry velocity selection

项目摘要

The technology developed in this programme will enhance atom interferometry in both the Atom Interferometry Observatory Network (AION) and MAGIS-100 projects by developing and implementing clock-laser technology and test of the methodology for very long baseline instruments. The strong scientific motivation for developing a new generation of quantum sensors stems from detailed theoretical work that shows how these instruments will push searches for certain types of dark matter beyond current boundaries and pioneer a new approach to the detection of gravity waves in a different range of frequency from the existing experiments LIGO and Virgo (thus complementing existing approaches). The long-baseline atom interferometers around the world will be networked, and there are many possible synergies through joint observations. Although gravity-wave detection on Earth provides a wealth of new information, much higher sensitivity can be achieved in space and future projects such as the Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration in Space (AEDGE), are already being discussed.The AION instrument combines the advantages of state-of-the-art optical clocks based on Sr atoms with atom interferometry. Two clouds of atoms will be prepared at different heights along a long vertical vacuum pipe, and both clouds will be launched so that they travel upwards before coming to rest and falling back down under gravity. Such 'atomic fountains' allow a long measurement time but atoms must be cooled to temperatures less than 1 nanokelvin otherwise they spread out too much before falling back through the detection region. A vertical laser beam runs through both clouds of atoms, at different heights, so that there is common-mode rejection of noise by differential measurement.Some aspects of the required technology are being developed. In this proposal, we shall develop the narrow bandwidth (few Hz) laser systems required for an interferometer using the narrowest single-photon transition in atomic strontium; the clock transition at (698nm) which is 1000 times narrower than the transition (at 689nm) originally planned for the initial demonstrator of differential interferometry. This electronic and optical technology will be developed as reliable modules for future deployment at the site of large baseline instruments. This represents an important stepping stone towards the AION-10 device. In addition, the narrowness of the clock transition allows extremely precise velocity selection of atoms from a distribution as required for high-contrast fringes from a long interferometer sequences. Furthermore this allows rapid interleaving of interferometry sequences by the sequential selection of different velocity classes from a single transported atom cloud, without repeating the laser cooling and transport processes. This work will be supported by comprehensive simulations using efficient numerical techniques being developed in AION. The AION programme exploits synergies between STFC and EPSRC science and the strategic areas of quantum technology, computing and metrology. It brings together a consortium of experimental and theoretical particle physicists, as well as astrophysicists and instrumentation experts, quantum information scientists, experts in Sr based atomic-clock research, and atomic physicists drawn from the STFC and EPSRC communities. The quantum technologies of AION have potential applications in such varied areas as navigation and oil drilling. We will work closely with the UK Quantum Technologies Hub in sensors and metrology to develop these technologies and bring them to market.

该计划开发的技术将通过开发和实施时钟激光技术以及对超长基线仪器的方法测试来增强原子干涉观测站网络（AION）和MAGIS-100项目中的原子干涉测量。开发新一代量子传感器的强大科学动机源于详细的理论工作，该工作表明这些仪器将如何推动对某些类型的暗物质的搜索超越当前的界限，并开创一种在不同范围内检测重力波的新方法。现有实验 LIGO 和 Virgo 的频率（从而补充了现有方法）。世界各地的长基线原子干涉仪将联网，通过联合观测有很多可能的协同作用。尽管地球上的重力波探测提供了丰富的新信息，但在太空中可以实现更高的灵敏度，并且已经在讨论暗物质原子实验和太空重力探索（AEDGE）等未来项目。AION仪器结合了基于 Sr 原子的最先进光学时钟与原子干涉测量的优点。将沿着一根长的垂直真空管在不同高度准备两个原子云，两个原子云都将被发射，以便它们向上移动，然后静止并在重力作用下落回。这种“原子喷泉”允许较长的测量时间，但原子必须冷却到低于 1 纳开尔文的温度，否则它们在落回检测区域之前会散开太多。垂直激光束在不同高度穿过两个原子云，以便通过差分测量实现噪声的共模抑制。所需技术的某些方面正在开发中。在本提案中，我们将开发使用原子锶中最窄单光子跃迁的干涉仪所需的窄带宽（几赫兹）激光系统； (698nm) 的时钟跃迁比最初计划用于差分干涉测量初始演示器的跃迁（689nm）窄 1000 倍。这种电子和光学技术将被开发为可靠的模块，以便将来在大型基线仪器现场部署。这是迈向 AION-10 设备的重要垫脚石。此外，时钟跃迁的狭窄性允许从分布中极其精确地选择原子速度，以满足长干涉仪序列的高对比度条纹的要求。此外，这允许通过从单个传输的原子云中顺序选择不同的速度等级来快速交错干涉测量序列，而无需重复激光冷却和传输过程。这项工作将得到使用 AION 中开发的高效数值技术的综合模拟的支持。 AION 计划利用了 STFC 和 EPSRC 科学以及量子技术、计算和计量等战略领域之间的协同作用。它汇集了实验和理论粒子物理学家、天体物理学家和仪器专家、量子信息科学家、基于锶的原子钟研究专家以及来自 STFC 和 EPSRC 社区的原子物理学家组成的联盟。 AION的量子技术在导航和石油钻探等各个领域都有潜在的应用。我们将与英国量子技术中心在传感器和计量领域密切合作，开发这些技术并将其推向市场。