Phase Shear Imaging for Long-Baseline Interferometry

MAGIS and AION are long-baseline atomic interferometers for the purposes of dark matter detection and act as a testbed for future gravitational wave detection in the mid-band frequency range between aLIGO and LISA. Being constructed at Fermilab and the UK.

They operate by free-falling collections of ultra-cold atoms down its vertical baseline. A series of laser pulses separate the atoms into a superposition of two states and eventually recombines them. The phase differences between the returning atoms result from either a change in acceleration during the free-fall or a change in the length of the baseline.

During the program of study, phase-shear imaging will be developed for the detection system of these devices to improve their sensitivity. This will include the assembly of a retro-reflection platform, its commissioning and operation. Data taken using this technique will then be analysed and initial results on dark matter detection produced.