Velocity‐modulated atom interferometry with enhanced dynamic range

We present new modes of operation in a continuous, 3D-cooled atomic beam interferometer designed for inertial sensing. In these experiments, a moving optical molasses cooling stage provides both three-dimensional cooling and excellent dynamic control over atomic beam velocity. By modulating the atomic beam velocity, we modulate the interferometer scale factor, enabling us to extract the absolute inertial phase over many phase cycles without sacrificing short-term sensitivity. These demonstrations provide a path toward solving the longstanding challenge of limited dynamic range in spatial-domain atom interferometric inertial sensors.