Enhancing the sensitivity of atom-interferometric inertial sensors using robust control.

Area of Science:

• Quantum sensing
• Atomic interferometry
• Inertial navigation

Background:

• Atom-interferometric quantum sensors offer revolutionary potential for navigation, civil engineering, and Earth observation.
• Real-world operation faces challenges from external interference, platform noise, and size/weight/power constraints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate robust control techniques using tailored light pulses to mitigate error sources in atom-interferometric accelerometers.
• To improve the performance and precision of quantum sensors in noisy, real-world environments.

Main Methods:

• Experimentally applied laser-intensity noise (up to 20%) to mimic unpredictable lateral platform motion.
• Utilized tailored light pulses designed with robust control techniques.
• Measured local gravity and applied accelerations to validate sensor performance.

Main Results:

• Robust control pulses maintained performant sensing, while conventional pulses failed under simulated platform motion.
• Interferometer scale factor was preserved, and measurement precision improved by 10× in the presence of laser-intensity noise.
• Applied accelerations were measured up to 21× more precisely at the highest noise level.

Conclusions:

• Tailored light pulses using robust control techniques effectively mitigate significant error sources in atom-interferometric accelerometers.
• This approach enhances measurement precision and preserves sensor performance in noisy environments.
• Provides a viable pathway for improved atom-interferometric inertial sensing in practical, real-world applications.