Offset Simultaneous Conjugate Atom Interferometers

Correlating the signals from simultaneous atom interferometers has enabled some of the most precise determinations of fundamental constants. Here, we show that multiple interferometers with strategically chosen initial conditions ("offset simultaneous conjugate interferometers" or OSCIs) can provide multi-channel readouts that amplify or suppress specific effects. This allows us to measure the photon recoil, and thus the fine structure constant, while being insensitive to gravity gradients, general acceleration gradients, and unwanted diffraction phases - these effects can be simultaneously monitored in other channels. An expected 4-fold reduction of sensitivity to spatial variations of gravity (due to higher-order gradients) and a 6-fold suppression of diffraction phases paves the way to measurements of the fine structure constant below the 0.1-ppb level, or to simultaneous sensing of gravity, the gravity gradient, and rotations.