Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 57: Poster 3: Quantengase, Ultrakalte Atome, Ultrakalte Moleküle, Materiewellen Optik, Präzisionsmessungen, Metrologie

Q 57.82: Poster

Thursday, March 17, 2011, 16:30–19:30, P1

Active low frequency vibration isolation for high precision atom interferometry — •Christian Freier, Alexander Senger, and Achim Peters — Humboldt Universität Berlin

The performance of high precision atom interferometers is often limited by vibrations of optical components introducing Raman phase noise. We have built and characterized an active low frequency vibration isolation platform which isolates one key component of our atom interferometer from environmental vibrations and allows us to perform high precision gravity measurements.

The platform combines a 0.5 Hz commercial spring-based passive vibration isolator with a custom built feedback loop. The active feedback system measures residual vibrations on the platform using a commercial weak-motion seismometer. This acceleration signal is fed back into voice coil actuators which exert a force on the floating isolator in order to cancel out the residual vibrations.

Using this method the resonance frequency of the isolator has been lowered to 0.03 Hz, which enables high performance low-frequency vibration isolation in a small portable package.