The theory of quantum levitators
Quantum Gases
2011-06-30 v2 Atomic Physics
Quantum Physics
Abstract
We develop a unified theory for clocks and gravimeters using the interferences of multiple atomic waves put in levitation by traveling light pulses. Inspired by optical methods, we exhibit a propagation invariant, which enables to derive analytically the wave function of the sample scattering on the light pulse sequence. A complete characterization of the device sensitivity with respect to frequency or to acceleration measurements is obtained. These results agree with previous numerical simulations and confirm the conjecture of sensitivity improvement through multiple atomic wave interferences. A realistic experimental implementation for such clock architecture is discussed.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1103.0639,
title = {The theory of quantum levitators},
author = {François Impens and Franck Pereira Dos Santos and Christian J. Bordé},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1103.0639},
year = {2011}
}
Comments
11 pages, 6 Figures. Minor typos corrected. Final version