Matter wave explorer of gravity (MWXG)

Ertmer, W.; Schubert, Ch-H.; Wendrich, Thijs; Gilowski, M.; Zaiser, M.; Zoest, T. van; Rasel, Ernst M.; Bordé, Ch. J.; Clairon, A.; Landragin,; Laurent, P.; Lemonde, P.; Santarelli, G.; Schleich, Wolfgang P.; Cataliotti, F. S.; Inguscio, M.; Poli, N.; Sorrentino, F.; Modugno, C.; Tino, G. M.; Gill, P.; Klein, H. A.; Margolis, H. S.; Reynaud, Serge; Salomon, Christophe; Lambrecht, Astrid; Peik, E.; Jentsch, C.; Johann, Ulrich; Rathke, Andreas; Bouyer, Philippe; Cacciapuoti, L.; Natale, P. De; Christophe, Bruno; Foulon, Bernard; Touboul, Pierre; Maleki, Lute; Yu, Nan; Turyshev, Slava G.; Anderson, J. D.; Schmidt‐Kaler, F.; Walser, Reinhold; Vigué, J.; Büchner, Matthias; Angonin, Marie-Christine; Delva, Pacôme; Tourrenc, P.; Bingham, R.; Kent, B. J.; Wicht, Andreas; Wang, L. J.; Bongs, Kai; Dittus, Hj.; Lämmerzahl, Cláus; Theil, Stephan; Sengstock, K.; Peters, A.; Müller, Tobias M.; Arndt, Markus; Iess, L.; Bondu, F.; Brillet, A.; Samain, E.; Chiofalo, Maria Luisa; Levi, Filippo; Calonico, Davide

doi:10.1007/s10686-008-9125-6

Cited by 31 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Atom interferometry is one of the most promising candidates for ultra-accurate measurements of gravito-inertial forces [1], with both fundamental [2,3,4,5] and practical (navigation or geodesy) applications. Atom interferometry is most often performed by applying successive coherent beam-splitting and -recombining processes separated by an interrogation time T to a set of particles [6].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-pulse atom interferometry in microgravity

et al. 2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We describe the operation of a light pulse interferometer using cold 87 Rb atoms in reduced gravity. Using a series of two Raman transitions induced by light pulses, we have obtained Ramsey fringes in the low gravity environment achieved during parabolic flights. With our compact apparatus, we have operated in a regime which is not accessible on ground. In the much lower gravity environment and lower vibration level of a satellite, our cold atom interferometer could measure accelerations with a sensitivity orders of magnitude better than the best ground based accelerometers and close to proven spaced-based ones. PACS. PACS-key discribing text of that key -PACS-key discribing text of that keyAtom interferometry is one of the most promising candidates for ultra-accurate measurements of gravito-inertial forces [1], with both fundamental [2,3,4,5] and practical (navigation or geodesy) applications. Atom interferometry is most often performed by applying successive coherent beam-splitting and -recombining processes separated by an interrogation time T to a set of particles [6]. Understanding matter waves interferences phenomena follows from the analogy with optical interferometry [7,8]: the incoming wave is separated into two wavepackets by a first beam-splitter; each wave then propagates during a time T along a different path and accumulates a different phase; the two wavepackets are finally recombined by a last beam-splitter. To observe the interferences, one measures the two output-channels complementary probability amplitudes which are sine functions of the accumulated phase difference ∆φ. This phase difference increases with the paths length, i.e. with the time T between the beamsplitting pulses.When used as inertial sensors [9,10], the atoms are usually left free to evolve during the interrogation time T so that the interferometer is only sensitive to gravitoinertial effects. In particular, one avoids residual trapping fields that would induce inhomogeneities or fluctuations and would affect the atomic signal. The interrogation time T is consequently limited by, on the one hand, the free expansion of the atomic cloud, and, on the other hand, the free fall of the atomic cloud. The limitation of expansion is alleviated by the use of ultracold gases [11,12], Send offprint requests to: Fig. 1. Top: The atom interferometer assembled in the Airbus. The main rack on the left houses the laser sources and the control electronics. The rack on the front right contains the uninterruptable power-supply, the electrical panel and the high-power laser part. The rack on the back right hosts atomoptics part of the experiment. Bottom: the architecture of the atom interferometer.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Light-pulse atom interferometry in microgravity

et al. 2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, cold atoms are seen as promising candidates for space-based measurements, in particular for tests of fundamental physics [22]. The design of the laser system for a space mission will be a key point.…”

Section: Preliminary Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A transportable cold atom inertial sensor for space applications

Ménoret

Geiger

Stern

et al. 2017

International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

I. INTRODUCTIONAtom interferometry has hugely benefitted from advances made in cold atom physics over the past twenty years, and ultra-precise quantum sensors are now available for a wide range of applications [1]. In particular, cold atom interferometers have shown excellent performances in the field of acceleration and rotation measurements [2,3], and are foreseen as promising candidates for navigation, geophysics, geo-prospecting and tests of fundamental physics such as the Universality of Free Fall (UFF). In order to carry out a test of the UFF with atoms as test masses, one needs to compare precisely the accelerations of two atoms with different masses as they fall in the Earth's gravitational field. The sensitivity of atom interferometers scales like the square of the time during which the atoms are in free fall, and on ground this interrogation time is limited by the size of the experimental setup to a fraction of a second. Sending an atom interferometer in space would allow for several seconds of excellent free-fall conditions, and tests of the UFF could be carried out with precisions as low as 10 -15 [4]. However, cold atoms experiments rely on complex laser systems, which are needed to cool down and manipulate the atoms, and these systems are usually very sensitive to temperature fluctuations and vibrations. In addition, when operating an inertial sensor, vibrations are a major issue, as they deteriorate the performances of the instrument. This is why cold atom interferometers are usually used in ground based facilities, which provide stable enough environments. In order to carry out airborne or space-borne measurements, one has to design an instrument which is both compact and stable, and such that vibrations induced by the platform will not deteriorate the sensitivity of the sensor.We report on the operation of an atom interferometer on board a plane carrying out parabolic flights (Airbus A300 Zero-G, operated by Novespace). We have constructed a compact and stable laser setup, which is well suited for onboard applications. Our goal is to implement a dual-species Rb-K atom interferometer in order to carry out a test of the UFF in the plane. In this perspective, we are designing a dual-wavelength laser source, which will enable us to cool down and coherently manipulate the quantum states of both atoms. We have successfully tested a preliminary version of the source and obtained a double species magneto-optical trap (MOT).

show abstract

“…I do not know if anyone has studied the possibility of producing large quantum superpositions on a balloon, but experiments on satellites and sub-orbital rockets are feasible and compelling for independent reasons. A microgravity platform offers several advantages for producing superpositions, whether using optical traps [29,30] or interferometers [25,[53][54][55][56][57][58]. In particular, the unlimited free-fall times and isolation from seismic vibration available in orbit are able to increase sensitivity by multiple orders of magnitude and achieve quantum superpositions not feasible on Earth [29,[53][54][55]59].…”

Section: Dark Matter Search Potentialmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct detection of classically undetectable dark matter through quantum decoherence

Riedel

2013

Phys. Rev. D

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although various pieces of indirect evidence about the nature of dark matter have been collected, its direct detection has eluded experimental searches despite extensive effort. If the mass of dark matter is below 1 MeV, it is essentially imperceptible to conventional detection methods because negligible energy is transferred to nuclei during collisions. Here I propose directly detecting dark matter through the quantum decoherence it causes rather than its classical effects such as recoil or ionization. I show that quantum spatial superpositions are sensitive to low-mass dark matter that is inaccessible to classical techniques. This provides new independent motivation for matter interferometry with large masses, especially on spaceborne platforms. The apparent dark matter wind we experience as the Sun travels through the Milky Way ensures interferometers and related devices are directional detectors, and so are able to provide unmistakable evidence that decoherence has galactic origins.

show abstract

Matter wave explorer of gravity (MWXG)

Cited by 31 publications

References 33 publications

Light-pulse atom interferometry in microgravity

Light-pulse atom interferometry in microgravity

A transportable cold atom inertial sensor for space applications

Direct detection of classically undetectable dark matter through quantum decoherence

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About