Abstract

Atom interferometers provide exquisite measurements of the properties of noninertial frames. While atomic interactions are typically detrimental to good sensing, efforts to harness entanglement to improve sensitivity remain tantalizing. Here we explore the role of interactions in an analogy between atomic gyroscopes and SQUIDs, motivated by recent experiments realizing ring-shaped traps for ultracold atoms. We explore the one-dimensional limit of these ring systems with a moving weak barrier, such as that provided by a blue-detuned laser beam. In this limit, we employ Luttinger liquid theory and find an analogy with the superconducting phase-slip qubit, in which the topological charge associated with persistent currents can be put into superposition. In particular, we find that strongly interacting atoms in such a system could be used for precision rotation sensing. We compare the performance of this new sensor to an equivalent noninteracting atom interferometer, and find improvements in sensitivity and bandwidth beyond the atomic shot-noise limit.

Publication Details
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2016
Volume
117
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.203002
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Contributors
Date Published
11/2016