Quantum limit of hybrid atom-mechanical gyroscope based on electro-magnetically induced transparency

Abstract

Application of hybrid atom-mechanical oscillator for absolute rotation detection is studied. The hybrid atom-mechanical oscillator consists of an atomic cell, filled with three level atoms, which is fixed on a mechanical oscillator. The atom-mechanical oscillator is placed on a rotating table such that the Coriolis force moves the atomic cell with respect to the incoming laser field. Thus the atomic resonance frequencies are Doppler shifted, and the phase of the laser field interacting with the atomic medium changes. Absolute rotation parameters are estimated by measuring the phase change in the laser field at the output of the atomic cell. Large dispersion is created in the atomic medium, using electromagnetically induced transparency, to enhance the phase change in the laser field interacting with the atomic medium. Contribution of the shot noise, the atomic noise and the noise due to the mechanical oscillation of the atomic cell are studied. We show that, under certain conditions, noise due to the mechanical oscillation of the atomic cell is on the same order of magnitude as the shot noise. The quantum limit of detectable rotation rate is estimated as $8.1\times10^{-19}$\,rad/s.