Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments

Abstract We investigate the use of an atomic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) with a pulsed non-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) source as a space-based acceleration sensor. We derive an analytic approximation for the device’s transmission under a uniform acceleration, which we use to comp...

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Main Authors: Manju Perumbil, Matthew J. Blacker, Stuart S. Szigeti, Simon A. Haine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Microgravity
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00499-4
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author Manju Perumbil
Matthew J. Blacker
Stuart S. Szigeti
Simon A. Haine
author_facet Manju Perumbil
Matthew J. Blacker
Stuart S. Szigeti
Simon A. Haine
author_sort Manju Perumbil
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We investigate the use of an atomic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) with a pulsed non-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) source as a space-based acceleration sensor. We derive an analytic approximation for the device’s transmission under a uniform acceleration, which we use to compute the device’s attainable acceleration sensitivity using the classical Fisher information. In the ideal case of a high-finesse FPI and an infinitely narrow momentum width atomic source, we find that when the device length is limited, the atomic FPI can achieve greater acceleration sensitivity than a Mach-Zender (MZ) interferometer of equivalent device length. Under the more realistic case of a finite momentum width source, we identify the ideal cavity length for the best sensitivity. Although the MZ interferometer now offers enhanced sensitivity within currently achievable parameter regimes, our analysis demonstrates that the atomic FPI holds potential as a promising future alternative if narrow momentum width atomic sources can be engineered.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2373-8065
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series npj Microgravity
spelling doaj-art-c80e3efab2ac4cc0ac34f3364a338e9f2025-08-20T04:02:55ZengNature Portfolionpj Microgravity2373-80652025-07-0111111110.1038/s41526-025-00499-4Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environmentsManju Perumbil0Matthew J. Blacker1Stuart S. Szigeti2Simon A. Haine3ITEP, Department of Education, Central University of KeralaDepartment of Quantum Science and Technology, The Australian National University, Research School of PhysicsDepartment of Quantum Science and Technology, The Australian National University, Research School of PhysicsDepartment of Quantum Science and Technology, The Australian National University, Research School of PhysicsAbstract We investigate the use of an atomic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) with a pulsed non-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) source as a space-based acceleration sensor. We derive an analytic approximation for the device’s transmission under a uniform acceleration, which we use to compute the device’s attainable acceleration sensitivity using the classical Fisher information. In the ideal case of a high-finesse FPI and an infinitely narrow momentum width atomic source, we find that when the device length is limited, the atomic FPI can achieve greater acceleration sensitivity than a Mach-Zender (MZ) interferometer of equivalent device length. Under the more realistic case of a finite momentum width source, we identify the ideal cavity length for the best sensitivity. Although the MZ interferometer now offers enhanced sensitivity within currently achievable parameter regimes, our analysis demonstrates that the atomic FPI holds potential as a promising future alternative if narrow momentum width atomic sources can be engineered.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00499-4
spellingShingle Manju Perumbil
Matthew J. Blacker
Stuart S. Szigeti
Simon A. Haine
Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
npj Microgravity
title Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
title_full Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
title_fullStr Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
title_full_unstemmed Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
title_short Theoretical investigation of an atomic Fabry Perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
title_sort theoretical investigation of an atomic fabry perot interferometer based acceleration sensor for microgravity environments
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00499-4
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AT stuartsszigeti theoreticalinvestigationofanatomicfabryperotinterferometerbasedaccelerationsensorformicrogravityenvironments
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