Angular Bloch oscillations and their applications
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: To advance inertial navigation, we present the scheme for a compact quantum sensor which is based on the quantum phenomenon of the angular Bloch oscillations and measuring exclusively the angular acceleration of slow external rotation. We study the dynamics of ultra-cold atoms confined in a toroidal trap with a ring-lattice along the azimuth angle, realized with the superposition of two copropagating Laguerre–Gaussian beams. In the presence of external rotation with a small angular acceleration, or a prescribed linear chirp between the two beams, the measured angular momentum of the trapped atoms exhibits a specific periodic behaviour in time, which we call as the angular Bloch oscillations. This quantum phenomenon is shown to be a key element of fruitful applications for (i) an efficient transfer of quantized angular momentum from the light to the atoms by controlling the chirp, and (ii) the direct determination of the angular acceleration of external rotation by measuring the Bloch period.
Source: Quantum Science and Technology
Authors: Bernd Konrad, Maxim Efremov
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,800
OpenAlex ID: W4403714665