Barrier–Well Potential Configuration for Quantum Gyroscope Based on Atomic BEC Geometric Phase

Abstract

A perspective scheme of quantum gyroscope based on measurement of geometric phase emerging in atomic Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) was developed. The main elements of the device are two ring-shaped BEC configurations intercepted by a pair of localized potentials—a barrier and a well. Their placement in each ring defines their orientation with respect to the angular velocity of rotation of the device’s frame. Proper variation of the parameters of the barriers and wells induces opposite-sign geometric phases in the BEC modes. Difference of these phases can be measured in interference experiment. We present results of geometric phase calculations for BEC of 87Rb atoms in ring potentials of 0.5 cm diameter and angular velocities comparable to that of the Earth’s rotation.