Development of quantum sensors with ultracold atoms

• Grant number: 17/19848-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Principal Investigator: Philippe Wilhelm Courteille
• Grantee: Camila Beli Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/04162-5 - Development of quantum sensors based on ultracold atoms, AP.TEM

Abstract

Gravity sensors are indispensable devices for numerous applications in industry as well as in fundamental research. A particularly attractive technique translates the force of gravitational acceleration in a frequency measurement of Bloch oscillations of laser-cooled atoms confined in a stationary vertical light wave. In modern gravimeters oscillations are measured via the state of the atoms after a variable evolution time. The measurement is destructive, and new atomic samples must be prepared for each preset evolution time. To overcome the destructive nature of the measurements in atomic gravimeters, we propose with this project a new technique that allows monitoring of the Bloch oscillations in vivo. The idea consists in letting the atoms interact with a high-finesse ring cavity operated in the regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics. With alkali atoms, which are more commonly used in experiments involving optical cooling, this system remains inaccessible for ring cavities, which by construction have macroscopic dimensions. We propose a way to circumvent this problem by using strontium atoms driven on their narrow intercombination line. (AU)