arXiv subjects

Andre Clairon

Publications and source records attributed to Andre Clairon.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Lasers for coherent optical satellite links with large dynamics

We present the experimental realization of a laser system for ground to satellite optical Doppler ranging at the atmospheric turbulence limit. Such a system needs to display good frequency stability (a few parts in 10^{-14}) whilst allowing large and well controlled frequency sweeps of +/- 12 GHz at rates exceeding 100 MHz/s. Furthermore it needs to be sufficiently compact and robust for transportation to different astronomical observation sites where it is to be interfaced with satellite ranging telescopes. We demonstrate that our system fulfills those requirements and should therefore allow operation of ground to low Earth orbit satellite coherent optical links limited only by atmospheric turbulence.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

A coherent optical link through the turbulent atmosphere

We describe the realization of a 5 km free space coherent optical link through the turbulent atmosphere between a telescope and a ground target. We present the phase noise of the link, limited mainly by atmospheric turbulence and mechanical vibrations of the telescope and the target. We discuss the implications of our results for applications, with particular emphasis on optical Doppler ranging to satellites and long distance frequency transfer.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

An agile laser with ultra-low frequency noise and high sweep linearity

We report on a fiber-stabilized agile laser with ultra-low frequency noise. The frequency noise power spectral density is comparable to that of an ultra-stable cavity stabilized laser at Fourier frequencies higher than 30 Hz. When it is chirped at a constant rate of ~ 40 MHz/s, the max non-linearity frequency error is about 50 Hz peak-to-peak over more than 600 MHz tuning range. The Rayleigh backscattering is found to be a significant frequency noise source dependent on fiber length, chirping rate and the power imbalance of the interferometer arms. We analyze this effect both theoretically and experimentally and put forward techniques to reduce this noise contribution.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Off-resonant Raman transitions impact in an atom interferometer

We study the influence of off-resonant two photon transitions on high precision measurements with atom interferometers based on stimulated Raman transitions. These resonances induce a two photon light shift on the resonant Raman condition. The impact of this effect is investigated in two highly sensitive experiments: a gravimeter and a gyroscope-accelerometer. We show that it can lead to significant systematic phase shifts, which have to be taken into account in order to achieve best performances in term of accuracy and stability.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Operating an atom interferometer beyond its linear range

In this paper, we show that an atom interferometer inertial sensor, when associated to the auxiliary measurement of external vibrations, can be operated beyond its linear range and still keep a high acceleration sensitivity. We propose and compare two measurement procedures (fringe fitting and nonlinear lock) that can be used to extract the mean phase of the interferometer when the interferometer phase fluctuations exceed $2π$. Despite operating in the urban environment of inner Paris without any vibration isolation, the use of a low noise seismometer for the measurement of ground vibrations allows our atom gravimeter to reach at night a sensitivity as good as $5.5\times10^{-8}$g at 1 s. Robustness of the measurement to large vibration noise is also demonstrated by the ability of our gravimeter to operate during an earthquake with excellent sensitivity. Our high repetition rate allows for recovering the true low frequency seismic vibrations, ensuring proper averaging. Such techniques open new perspectives for applications in other fields, such as navigation and geophysics.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Limits to the sensitivity of a low noise compact atomic gravimeter

A detailed analysis of the most relevant sources of phase noise in an atomic interferometer is carried out, both theoretically and experimentally. Even a short interrogation time of 100 ms allows our cold atom gravimeter to reach an excellent short term sensitivity to acceleration of $1.4\times 10^{-8}$g at 1s. This result relies on the combination of a low phase noise laser system, efficient detection scheme and good shielding from vibrations. In particular, we describe a simple and robust technique of vibration compensation, which is based on correcting the interferometer signal by using the AC acceleration signal measured by a low noise seismometer.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

From Optical Lattice Clocks to the Measurement of Forces in the Casimir Regime

We describe a novel experiment based on atoms trapped close to a macroscopic surface, to study the interactions between the atoms and the surface at very small separations (0.6 to 10 $μ$m). In this range the dominant potential is the QED interaction (Casimir-Polder and Van der Waals) between the surface and the atom. Additionally, several theoretical models suggest the possibility of Yukawa type potentials with sub-mm range, arising from new physics related to gravity. The proposes set-up is very similar to neutral atom optical lattice clocks, but with the atoms trapped in lattice sites close to the reflecting mirror. A sequence of pulses of the probe laser at different frequencies is then used to create an interferometer with a coherent superposition between atomic states at different distances from the mirror (in different lattice sites). Assuming atom interferometry state of the art measurement of the phase difference and a duration of the superposition of about 0.1 s we expect to be able to measure the potential difference between separated states with an uncertainty of $\approx 10^{-4}$ Hz. An analysis of systematic effects for different atoms and surfaces indicates no fundamentally limiting effect at the same level of uncertainty, but does influence the choice of atom and surface material. Based on those estimates, we expect that such an experiment would improve the best existing measurements of the atom-wall QED interaction by $\geq$ 2 orders of magnitude, whilst gaining up to 4 orders of magnitude on the best present limits on new interactions in the range between 100 nm and 100 $μ$m.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2006

High Resolution Frequency Standard Dissemination via Optical Fibre Metropolitan Network

We present in this paper results on a new dissemination system of ultra-stable reference signal at 100 MHz on a standard fibre network. The 100 MHz signal is simply transferred by amplitude modulation of an optical carrier. Two different approaches for compensating the noise introduced by the link have been implemented. The limits of the two systems are analyzed and several solution suggested in order to improve the frequency stability and to further extend the distribution distance. Nevertheless, our system is a good tool for the best cold atom fountains comparison between laboratories, up to 100 km, with a relative frequency resolution of 10-14 at one second integration time and 10-17 for one day of measurement. The distribution system may be upgraded to fulfill the stringent distribution requirements for the future optical clocks.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Cold Atom Clock Test of Lorentz Invariance in the Matter Sector

We report on a new experiment that tests for a violation of Lorentz invariance (LI), by searching for a dependence of atomic transition frequencies on the orientation of the spin of the involved states (Hughes-Drever type experiment). The atomic frequencies are measured using a laser cooled $^{133}$Cs atomic fountain clock, operating on a particular combination of Zeeman substates. We analyze the results within the framework of the Lorentz violating standard model extension (SME), where our experiment is sensitive to a largely unexplored region of the SME parameter space, corresponding to first measurements of four proton parameters and improvements by 11 and 13 orders of magnitude on the determination of four others. In spite of the attained uncertainties, and of having extended the search into a new region of the SME, we still find no indication of LI violation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Testing Lorentz Invariance using Zeeman Transitions in Atomic Fountains

Lorentz Invariance (LI) is the founding postulate of Einstein's 1905 theory of relativity, and therefore at the heart of all accepted theories of physics. It characterizes the invariance of the laws of physics in inertial frames under changes of velocity or orientation. This central role, and indications from unification theories hinting toward a possible LI violation, have motivated tremendous experimental efforts to test LI. A comprehensive theoretical framework to describe violations of LI has been developed over the last decade: the Lorentz violating Standard Model Extension (SME). It allows a characterization of LI violations in all fields of present day physics using a large (but finite) set of parameters which are all zero when LI is satisfied. All classical tests (e.g. Michelson-Morley or Kennedy-Thorndike experiments) can be analyzed in the SME, but it also allows the conception of new types of experiments, not thought of previously. We have carried out such a conceptually new LI test, by comparing particular atomic transitions (particular orientations of the involved nuclear spins) in the $^{133}$Cs atom using a cold atomic fountain clock. This allows us to test LI in a previously largely unexplored region of the SME parameter space, corresponding to first measurements of four proton parameters and an improvement by 11 and 12 orders of magnitude on the determination of four others. In spite of the attained accuracies, and of having extended the search into a new region of the SME, we still find no indication of LI violation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Recent Experimental Tests of Special Relativity

We review our recent Michelson-Morley (MM) and Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) experiment, which tests Lorentz invariance in the photon sector, and report first results of our ongoing atomic clock test of Lorentz invariance in the matter sector. The MM-KT experiment compares a cryogenic microwave resonator to a hydrogen maser, and has set the most stringent limit on a number of parameters in alternative theories to special relativity. We also report first results of a test of Lorentz invariance in the SME (Standard Model Extension) matter sector, using Zeeman transitions in a laser cooled Cs atomic fountain clock. We describe the experiment together with the theoretical model and analysis. Recent experimental results are presented and we give a first estimate of components of the $\tilde{c}^p$ parameters of the SME matter sector. A full analysis of systematic effects is still in progress, and will be the subject of a future publication together with our final results. If confirmed, the present limits would correspond to first ever measurements of some $\tilde{c}^p$ components, and improvements by 11 and 14 orders of magnitude on others.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2004

Improved Test of Lorentz Invariance in Electrodynamics

We report new results of a test of Lorentz invariance based on the comparison of a cryogenic sapphire microwave resonator and a hydrogen maser. The experimental results are shown together with an extensive analysis of systematic effects. Previously, this experiment has set the most stringent constraint on Kennedy-Thorndike type violations of Lorentz invariance. In this work we present new data and interpret our results in the general Lorentz violating extension of the standard model of particle physics (SME). Within the photon sector of the SME, our experiment is sensitive to seven SME parameters. We marginally improve present limits on four of these, and by a factor 7 to 10 on the other three.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Whispering Gallery Resonators and Tests of Lorentz Invariance

The frequencies of a cryogenic sapphire oscillator and a hydrogen maser are compared to set new constraints on a possible violation of Lorentz invariance. We give a detailed description of microwave resonators operating in Whispering Gallery modes and then apply it to derive explicit models for Lorentz violating effects in our experiment. Models are calculated in the theoretical framework of Robertson, Mansouri and Sexl and in the standard model extension (SME) of Kostelecky and co-workers. We constrain the parameters of the Mansouri and Sexl test theory to $1/2 - β_{MS} + δ_{MS} = (1.2 \pm 2.2) \times 10^{-9}$ and $β_{MS} - α_{MS} - 1 = (1.6 \pm 3.0) \times 10^{-7}$ which is of the same order as the best results from other experiments for the former and represents a 70 fold improvement for the latter. These results correspond to an improvement of our previously published limits [Wolf P. et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 90}, 6, 060402, (2003)] by about a factor 2.

gr-qc↗