Characterization of Errors in Interferometry with Entangled Atoms

Recent progress in generating entangled spin states of neutral atoms provides opportunities to advance quantum sensing technology. In particular, entanglement can enhance the performance of accelerometers and gravimeters based on light-pulse atom interferometry. We study the effects of error sources that may limit the sensitivity of such devices, including errors in the preparation of the initial entangled state, imperfections in the laser pulses, momentum spread of the initial atomic wave packet, measurement errors, spontaneous emission, and atom loss. We determine that, for each of these errors, the expectation value of the parity operator $\Pi$ has the general form, $\overline{\langle \Pi \rangle} = \Pi_0 \cos( N \phi )$, where $\phi$ is the interferometer phase and $N$ is the number of atoms prepared in the maximally entangled Greenberger--Horne--Zeilinger state. Correspondingly, the minimum phase uncertainty has the general form, $\Delta\phi = (\Pi_0 N)^{-1}$. Each error manifests itself through a reduction of the amplitude of the parity oscillations, $\Pi_0$, below the ideal value of $\Pi_0 = 1$. For each of the errors, we derive an analytic result that expresses the dependence of $\Pi_0$ on error parameter(s) and $N$, and also obtain a simplified approximate expression valid when the error is small. Based on the performed analysis, entanglement-enhanced atom interferometry appears to be feasible with existing experimental capabilities.