Cold Atom Interferometer as Inertial Measurement Unit for Precision Navigation

Christopher Jekeli

Abstract:	Recent technological advancements in atom interferometry have demonstrated extremely precise inertial measurements of acceleration and rotation. These could be used to develop ultra-precise inertial navigation systems that approach GPS navigation. The paper presents a rudimentary exposition of the interferometer which is based on beams of atoms cooled by lasers to a velocity of the order of 1 m/s and launched along two trajectories that re-combine, as in a classical interferometer. Using the dual wave-particle quantum mechanical properties of atoms, the differential phase of the interfering beams is indicative of inertial acceleration and rotation, similar to the Sagnac effect. Due to the much shorter wavelength of the atomic beam, the sensitivity is many orders of magnitude greater. Concluding analyses show that an inertial navigation system with 5/hr drift is technically possible.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 60th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2004) June 7 - 9, 2004 Dayton Marriott Hotel Dayton, OH
Pages:	604 - 613
Cite this article:	Jekeli, Christopher, "Cold Atom Interferometer as Inertial Measurement Unit for Precision Navigation," Proceedings of the 60th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (2004), Dayton, OH, June 2004, pp. 604-613.
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