Hybridizing an atom and optical interferometer with a common inertial reference for precision quantum sensing

Quantum inertial sensors based on atom interferometry have demonstrated incredible potential for high precision and reliable measurements of inertial effects for real world applications. Vibrational noise is the most prominent noise source that hinders its measurement sensitivity apart from introducing ambiguities. We have successfully demonstrated using a small opto-mechanical resonator on a T = 10 ms atom interferometer [1] which resolves measurement ambiguity and measures the local gravitational acceleration with an uncertainty of 4 × 10^-6 ms^-2 after an integration time of 18000 seconds. We have taken the next step of fully integrating an accelerometer which comprises a harmonic mechanical oscillator and a Fabry–Pérot interferometer with the inertial reference mirror of the atom interferometer aiming for higher accuracy hybridization. Therefore, both the atom and optical interferometers measure acceleration with respect to the same inertial reference which is the test mass of the mechanical oscillator. High reflectivity coating for the optical interferometer enhances its sensitivity which will enable hybridization with highly sensitive atom interferometers.