Six-Axis Inertial Sensor Using Cold-Atom Interferometry

TLDR

The study introduces a new atom gyroscope using a butterfly geometry. The gyroscope employs two counter‑propagating cold‑atom clouds launched along curved parabolic trajectories, with three time‑pulsed Raman beam pairs applied orthogonally to measure all three axes of rotation and acceleration. The device provides a full inertial base, and its current sensitivity is discussed along with potential improvements.

Abstract

We have developed an atom interferometer providing a full inertial base. This device uses two counter-propagating cold-atom clouds that are launched in strongly curved parabolic trajectories. Three single Raman beam pairs, pulsed in time, are successively applied in three orthogonal directions leading to the measurement of the three axis of rotation and acceleration. In this purpose, we introduce a new atom gyroscope using a butterfly geometry. We discuss the present sensitivity and the possible improvements.