Bragg gravity-gradiometer using the S-1(0)-P-3(1) intercombination transition of Sr-88

Year: 2018

Authors: del Aguila R.P., Mazzoni T., Hu L., Salvi L., Tino GM., Poli N.

Autors Affiliation: [del Aguila, R. P.; Mazzoni, T.; Hu, L.; Salvi, L.; Tino, G. M.; Poli, N.] Univ Firenze, Ist Nazl Fis Nucl, Sez Firenze, Dipartimento Fis & Astron, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
[del Aguila, R. P.; Mazzoni, T.; Hu, L.; Salvi, L.; Tino, G. M.; Poli, N.] Univ Firenze, Ist Nazl Fis Nucl, Sez Firenze, LENS, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
[Mazzoni, T.] UPMC Univ Paris 06, Sorbonne Univ, PSL Res Univ, LNE SYRTE,Observ Paris,CNRS, 61 Ave Observ, F-75014 Paris, France.
[Hu, L.] Abdus Salaam Int Ctr Theoret Phys, Str Costiera 11, I-34151 Trieste, Italy.
[Tino, G. M.] CNR IFAC, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
[Poli, N.] CNR INO, Via N Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

Abstract: We present a gradiometer based on matter-wave interference of alkaline-earth-metal atoms, namely Sr-88. The coherent manipulation of the atomic external degrees of freedom is obtained by large-momentum-transfer Bragg diffraction, driven by laser fields detuned away from the narrow S-1(0)-P-3(1) intercombination transition. We use a well-controlled artificial gradient, realized by changing the relative frequencies of the Bragg pulses during the interferometer sequence, in order to characterize the sensitivity of the gradiometer. The sensitivity reaches 1.5 x 10(-5) s(-2) for an interferometer time of 20 ms, limited only by geometrical constraints. We observed extremely low sensitivity of the gradiometric phase to magnetic field gradients, approaching a value 10(4) times lower than the sensitivity of alkali-atom based gradiometers, limited by the interferometer sensitivity. An efficient double-launch technique employing accelerated red vertical lattices from a single magneto-optical trap cloud is also demonstrated. These results highlight strontium as an ideal candidate for precision measurements of gravity gradients, with potential application in future precision tests of fundamental physics.

Journal/Review: NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

Volume: 20      Pages from: 043002-1  to: 043002-10

KeyWords: gravity gradiometer; strontium; intercombination transition; Bragg diffraction; atom interferometer
DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/aab088

Citations: 22
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