Joseph M. Kinast

Light pulse atom interferometry at short interrogation times

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, February 2012.

Efficient broadband Raman pulses for large-area atom interferometry

We report a demonstration of composite Raman pulses that achieve broadband population inversion and are used to increase the momentum splitting of an atom interferometer up to 18ℏk (corresponding to an increase in the inertial signal by a factor of nine). Composite Raman pulses suppress the effects of pulse length and detuning errors, providing higher transfer efficiency and velocity acceptance than single square pulses. We implement two composite pulse sequences, π/20°−π90°−π/20° and π/20°−π180°−3π/20°, and use the latter composite pulse to demonstrate large-area atom interferometry with stimulated Raman transitions. In addition to enabling larger momentum transfer and higher sensitivity, we argue that composite pulses can improve the robustness of atom interferometers operating in dynamic environments.

Atom interferometry via Raman chirped adiabatic passage

Practical atom interferometric sensors may benefit from robust atom optics based on Raman chirped adiabatic passage (RCAP). We demonstrate coherent transfer and interference using RCAP, and discuss expected enhancement of interferometer stability.

Robust Ramsey sequences with Raman adiabatic rapid passage

Methods and apparatus provide for inertial sensing and atomic time-keeping based on atom interferometry. According to one example a method for inertial sensing includes trapping and cooling a cloud of atoms, applying a first beam splitter pulse sequence to the cloud of atoms, applying a mirror sequence to the cloud of atoms subsequent to applying the first beam splitter pulse sequence, applying a second beam splitter pulse sequence to the cloud of atoms subsequent to applying the mirror sequence, modulating at least one of a phase and an intensity of at least one of the first and the second beam splitter pulse sequences, performing at least one measurement subsequent to applying the second beam splitter pulse on the cloud of atoms during an interrogation time, and generating a control signal based on the at least one measurement.