Wavefront Mapping for Absolute Atom Interferometry Article Swipe
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· 2025
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2507.23052
· OA: W4414931025
Wavefront distortions are a leading source of systematic uncertainty in light-pulse atom interferom- etry, limiting absolute measurements of gravitational acceleration at the 30 nm/s$^2$ level. Here, we demonstrate in situ spatially resolved measurement of the interferometer phase in a Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer as a tool to characterize and correct wavefront bias. By introducing controllable curvature of the Raman light using an adjustable collimation retro-reflector, we show that the bias due to parabolic wavefront curvature can be measured with 1 mrad uncertainty and that finite-size corrections impact the measured phase curvature. This measurement process could be adopted in optimized atom interferometer gravimeters to reduce wavefront bias uncertainty below the nm/s$^2$ level.
