A Next-Generation Absolute Quantum Gyroscope using Ultra-Cold Atoms

定位、制导和导航严重依赖于最先进的加速度计和陀螺仪。光学陀螺仪的偏置稳定性限制了自主惯性导航系统的精度。这些设备通过旋转环路中相反方向的光束之间的Sagnac干涉来测量旋转速率，并且对于包括国防，航空和航天工业在内的几个市场至关重要。利用物质波干涉的原子陀螺仪提供了一个很有前途的选择。由于其巨大的内部能量，原子对旋转的敏感度是可见光子的1011倍。然而，实现高精度绝对量子陀螺仪的挑战尚未实现。我的研究项目将开发下一代绝对量子陀螺仪能够测量低于10-10 rad/s的旋转速率。该计划的短期目标，构成了一种新型量子技术的基石，如下：多维原子光学：将实现沿多个空间维度同时衍射原子的新技术，使构建具有多轴惯性灵敏度的二维和三维物质波干涉仪成为可能。2. 多环路干涉仪：多环路干涉仪几何形状与大封闭区域将被用来提高性能。3. 绝对比例因子：将演示一个比例因子精度为109分之一的旋转信号。4. 紧凑的传感器头：利用大动量传递光脉冲，以及原子在小区域内相干反弹的“光学蹦床”，我的团队将在紧凑的体积内提高原子陀螺仪的灵敏度，为未来的商业化奠定基础。5. 系统效应的抑制：与原子初始速度和加速度有关的偏差源将被抑制几个数量级。要实现这些目标，需要建造一种最先进的仪器，能够产生在大面积物质波干涉仪中相干操纵的超冷原子。这项工作将在新不伦瑞克大学启动一个新的量子传感和超冷物质物理实验室，为研究和培养高素质人才创造独特的机会。这项研究计划的长远目标是开发高性能的微型量子传感器，可以与商业导航系统集成，从而实现长期的无卫星定位。该计划直接有助于NSERC的战略目标，即促进具有高商业化潜力的早期研究，并为加拿大在量子技术发展中建立领导地位。它的成功将强烈影响数十亿美元的定位和导航产业，以及地球物理学、旋转地震学和空间科学的应用。

Positioning, guidance, and navigation heavily rely on state-of-the-art accelerometers and gyroscopes. The accuracy of autonomous inertial navigation systems is limited by the bias stability of optical gyroscopes. These devices measure rotation rates via the Sagnac interference between light beams traveling in opposite directions in a rotating loop, and are essential to several markets including the defense, aviation, and space industries. Atomic gyroscopes that utilize matter-wave interference offer a promising alternative. Due to their massive internal energy, an atom's sensitivity to rotations is 1011 times greater than that of a visible photon. Yet, the challenge of realizing a high-precision absolute quantum gyroscope has not yet been achieved. My research program will develop a next-generation absolute quantum gyroscope capable of measuring rotation rates below 10-10 rad/s. The short-term objectives of this program, which form the building blocks of a novel quantum technology, are as follows: 1. Multidimensional atom optics: new techniques to simultaneously diffract atoms along multiple spatial dimensions will be implemented-enabling the construction of 2D and 3D matter-wave interferometers with multi-axis inertial sensitivity. 2. Multi-loop interferometry: multi-loop interferometer geometries with large enclosed areas will be used to enhance the performance. 3. Absolute scale factor: a rotation signal with a scale factor accuracy of 1 part in 109 will be demonstrated. 4. Compact sensor head: utilizing large-momentum transfer optical pulses, along with an "optical trampoline" in which atoms coherently bounce in a small region, my group will enhance the sensitivity of the atomic gyroscope in a compact volume-laying the groundwork for future commercialization. 5. Suppression of systematic effects: sources of bias related to the atoms initial velocity and acceleration will be suppressed by several orders of magnitude. Achieving these objectives will require the construction of a state-of-the-art instrument capable of producing ultra-cold atoms that are coherently manipulated in a large-area matter-wave interferometer. This work will kick-start a new laboratory for quantum sensing and ultra-cold matter physics at the University of New Brunswick-creating unique opportunities for research and training of highly-qualified personnel. The radical long-term objective of this research program is to develop high-performance miniature quantum sensors that can be integrated with commercial navigation systems-leading to long-term satellite-free positioning. This program directly contributes to NSERC's strategic objective to foster early-stage research with a high potential for commercialization, and to establish a leading role for Canada in the development of quantum technology. Its success will strongly impact the multi-billion-dollar industry of positioning and navigation, as well as applications in geophysics, rotational seismology, and space science.