Measurement of the Sensitivity Function in a Time-Domain Atomic Interferometer

We present here an analysis of the sensitivity of a time-domain atomic interferometer to the phase noise of the lasers used to manipulate the atomic wave packets. The sensitivity function is calculated in the case of a three-pulse Mach–Zehnder interferometer, which is the configuration of the two inertial sensors we are building at the Laboratoire National de MÉtrologie et d'Essais-SystÈme de RÉfÉrences Temps-Espace. We successfully compare this calculation to experimental measurements. The sensitivity of the interferometer is limited by the phase noise of the lasers as well as by residual vibrations. We evaluate the performance that could be obtained with state-of-the-art quartz oscillators, as well as the impact of the residual phase noise of the phase-locked loop. Requirements on the level of vibrations are derived from the same formalism.