Space-borne Atom Interferometry for Tests of General Relativity

ORAL

Abstract

Quantum sensors based on the interference of matter waves provide an exceptional access to test the postulates of general relativity by comparing the free-fall acceleration of matter waves of different composition. Space-borne quantum tests of the universality of free fall (UFF) promise to exploit the full potential of these sensors due to long free-fall times, and to reach unprecedented performance beyond current limits set by classical experiments.

In this contribution, we present a dedicated satellite mission to test the UFF with ultra-cold atoms to 10-17 as proposed to the ESA Voyage 2050 initiative [Battelier et al., arXiv:1908.11785 (2019)]. To this end, we highlight our model for suppressing spurious error terms [Loriani et al., PRD 102, 124043 (2020)] and outline our work on a dedicated simulator for satellite-based atom interferometry, which will be an indispensable tool for the detailed analysis of future space mission scenarios.

*We acknowledge financial support from DFG through CRCs 1227 (B07/A05), 1128, and EXC-2123 (grant 390837967); DLR with funds from BMWi (grants 50WM1641/50WM2060); "Niedersächsisches Vorab" through QUANOMET (QT3); and "Förderung von Wissenschaft und Technik in Forschung und Lehre" for the initial funding of research in the new DLR-SI Institute.

Publication: Battelier et al., arXiv:1908.11785 (2019); Loriani et al., PRD 102, 124043 (2020)

Presenters

  • Naceur Gaaloul

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
    • Univ Hannover
    • Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
    • Leibniz University Hannover
    • Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, D-30167 Hannover, Germany

Authors

  • Sina Loriani

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
  • Christian Schubert

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
  • Dennis Schlippert

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
  • Wolfgang Ertmer

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
  • Franck Pereira Dos Santos

    • LNE-SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris
  • Ernst M Rasel

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
    • Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, Hannover, Deutschland
    • Leibniz University Hannover
  • Naceur Gaaloul

    • Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics
    • Univ Hannover
    • Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
    • Leibniz University Hannover
    • Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
  • Peter Wolf

    • LNE-SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris