Title:
【発明の名称】原子干渉性ジャイロスコープ、加速度計、及び重力観測計
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JPH05501453
Kind Code:
A
Abstract:
The invention is a neutral atom (and/or molecule) matter-wave interferometer (and/or set of interferometers) that can be used as an inertial sensor with a sensitivity exceeding that of conventional mechanical sensors and multiple circuit optical interferometers (including ring lasers) by many powers of ten. An interferometer in which matter-wave propagation beam paths enclose a finite area will sense rotations via the Sagnac effect. One with the paths displaced from each other will sense acceleration plus gravity. Interferometers with paths that follow a figure-eight pattern yield a gravitational gradiometer. Laser cooling and slowing of a beam of neutral atoms provides a low energy nearly monochromatic source. Diffraction gratings are employed as beam splitters. Such gratings may consist of apertures in a sheet of solid material, near-resonant standing-wave laser beams, or crystal faces. Path curvature due to acceleration and rotation is canceled by magnetic and/or electric field gradients that produce an effective levitation of slow atoms. A feedback system that maintains an interferometer phase null is employed with its error signal yielding the inertial effect signals. Magnetic and/or electric fields are used for producing matter-wave phase shifts. The invention may be used to measure acceleration, rotation, position, orientation, gravity, the mass distribution of nearby matter, and an electric current. Other important applications are mass tomography, geodesy, and petroleum exploration.
Inventors:
Clauser John Francis
Application Number:
JP51548090A
Publication Date:
March 18, 1993
Filing Date:
March 05, 1990
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Clauser John Francis
International Classes:
G01C19/60; G01C19/58; G01P3/44; G01P15/08; G01P15/093; G01P15/14; G01V7/00; G21K1/06; H05H3/00; H05H3/02; (IPC1-7): G01C19/60; G01P15/14; G01V7/00; H05H3/00
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Minoru Nakamura (6 outside)