Sensitivity and Bandwidth of a Point-Source-Interferometry-based Inertial Measurement Unit Employing Large Momentum Transfer and Launched Atoms

We analyze theoretically the sensitivity and bandwidth of accelerometry and rotation sensing with a point source interferometer employing large momentum transfer (LMT) with molasses-launched atoms. The launching process makes it possible to realize the LMT process without the need to physically change directions of the Raman pulses, thus significantly simplifying the apparatus and reducing the amount of time needed to make the measurements. These advantages become more important when this process is used for realizing an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that can measure rotation around and acceleration along each of the three axes. We describe an explicit scheme for a such an IMU and determine the expected sensitivity and bandwidth thereof for experimentally accessible parameters.