We study a space-based gravity gradiometer based on cold atom interferometry and its potential for the Earth's gravitational field mapping. The instrument architecture has been proposed in [Carraz et al., Microgravity Science and Technology 26, 139 (2014)] and enables high-sensitivity measurements of gravity gradients by using atom interferometers in a differential accelerometer configuration. We present the design of the instrument including its subsystems and analyze the mission scenario, for which we derive the expected instrument performances, the requirements on the sensor and its key subsystems, and the expected impact on the recovery of the Earth gravity field.
Wavefront aberrations are identified as a major limitation in quantum
sensors. They are today the main contribution in the uncertainty budget of best
cold atom interferometers based on two-photon laser beam splitters, and
constitute an important limit for their long-term stability, impeding these
instruments from reaching their full potential. Moreover, they will also remain
a major obstacle in future experiments based on large momentum beam splitters.
In this article, we tackle this issue by using a deformable mirror to control
actively the laser wavefronts in atom interferometry. In particular, we
demonstrate in an experimental proof of principle the efficient correction of
wavefront aberrations in an atomic gravimeter
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