Atom interferometry aboard the International Space Station
ORAL
Abstract
Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are excellent systems for quantum sensing applications like navigation, relativistic geodesy and tests of the universality of free fall. The sensitivity of most such atom interferometers increases quadratically with the interrogation time, which makes it beneficial to extend the free fall time. To accomplish this goal NASA has launched the Cold Atom Lab (CAL) [1,2] to the International Space Station enabling atom interferometers with BECs in orbit.
Here we report on a series of experiments performed on CAL, using different interferometer geometries to measure any residual magnetic or inertial forces acting on the atom cloud. Furthermore, we discuss current limitations as well as prospective future experiments on CAL. These results pave the way towards future precision measurements with atom interferometers in space.
Here we report on a series of experiments performed on CAL, using different interferometer geometries to measure any residual magnetic or inertial forces acting on the atom cloud. Furthermore, we discuss current limitations as well as prospective future experiments on CAL. These results pave the way towards future precision measurements with atom interferometers in space.
*This project is supported by NASA/JPL through RSA No. 1616833 and the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under the grant numbers 50WM1861-1862, 50WM2245A and 50WM2245B.
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Publication: [1] Aveline, D. C. et al. Observation of Bose–Einstein condensates in an Earth-orbiting research lab. Nature 582, 193–197 (2020).
[2] Gaaloul, N. et al. A space-based quantum gas laboratory at picokelvin energy scales. arXiv:2201.06919 (2022).
Presenters
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Patrick B Boegel
- Institut für Quantenphysik, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Univ Ulm