14,239 research outputs found
Precision Measurement of the Newtonian Gravitational Constant Using Cold Atoms
About 300 experiments have tried to determine the value of the Newtonian
gravitational constant, G, so far, but large discrepancies in the results have
made it impossible to know its value precisely. The weakness of the
gravitational interaction and the impossibility of shielding the effects of
gravity make it very difficult to measure G while keeping systematic effects
under control. Most previous experiments performed were based on the torsion
pendulum or torsion balance scheme as in the experiment by Cavendish in 1798,
and in all cases macroscopic masses were used. Here we report the precise
determination of G using laser-cooled atoms and quantum interferometry. We
obtain the value G=6.67191(99) x 10^(-11) m^3 kg^(-1) s^(-2) with a relative
uncertainty of 150 parts per million (the combined standard uncertainty is
given in parentheses). Our value differs by 1.5 combined standard deviations
from the current recommended value of the Committee on Data for Science and
Technology. A conceptually different experiment such as ours helps to identify
the systematic errors that have proved elusive in previous experiments, thus
improving the confidence in the value of G. There is no definitive relationship
between G and the other fundamental constants, and there is no theoretical
prediction for its value, against which to test experimental results. Improving
the precision with which we know G has not only a pure metrological interest,
but is also important because of the key role that G has in theories of
gravitation, cosmology, particle physics and astrophysics and in geophysical
models.Comment: 3 figures, 1 tabl
Active Control of Laser Wavefronts in Atom Interferometers
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
How to estimate the differential acceleration in a two-species atom interferometer to test the equivalence principle
We propose a scheme for testing the weak equivalence principle (Universality
of Free Fall) using an atom-interferometric measurement of the local
differential acceleration between two atomic species with a large mass ratio as
test masses. A apparatus in free fall can be used to track atomic free-fall
trajectories over large distances. We show how the differential acceleration
can be extracted from the interferometric signal using Bayesian statistical
estimation, even in the case of a large mass and laser wavelength difference.
We show that this statistical estimation method does not suffer from
acceleration noise of the platform and does not require repeatable experimental
conditions. We specialize our discussion to a dual potassium/rubidium
interferometer and extend our protocol with other atomic mixtures. Finally, we
discuss the performances of the UFF test developed for the free-fall (0-g)
airplane in the ICE project (\verb"http://www.ice-space.fr"
Optically trapped atom interferometry using the clock transition of large Rb-87 Bose-Einstein condensates
We present a Ramsey-type atom interferometer operating with an optically
trapped sample of 10^6 Bose-condensed Rb-87 atoms. The optical trap allows us
to couple the |F =1, mF =0>\rightarrow |F =2, mF =0> clock states using a
single photon 6.8GHz microwave transition, while state selective readout is
achieved with absorption imaging. Interference fringes with contrast
approaching 100% are observed for short evolution times. We analyse the process
of absorption imaging and show that it is possible to observe atom number
variance directly, with a signal-to-noise ratio ten times better than the
atomic projection noise limit on 10^6 condensate atoms. We discuss the
technical and fundamental noise sources that limit our current system, and
outline the improvements that can be made. Our results indicate that, with
further experimental refinements, it will be possible to produce and measure
the output of a sub-shot-noise limited, large atom number BEC-based
interferometer.
In an addendum to the original paper, we attribute our inability to observe
quantum projection noise to the stability of our microwave oscillator and
background magnetic field. Numerical simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii
equations for our system show that dephasing due to spatial dynamics driven by
interparticle interactions account for much of the observed decay in fringe
visibility at long interrogation times. The simulations show good agreement
with the experimental data when additional technical decoherence is accounted
for, and suggest that the clock states are indeed immiscible. With smaller
samples of 5 \times 10^4 atoms, we observe a coherence time of {\tau} =
(1.0+0.5-0.3) s.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures Addendum: 11 pages, 6 figure
Sensitivity limits of a Raman atom interferometer as a gravity gradiometer
We evaluate the sensitivity of a dual cloud atom interferometer to the
measurement of vertical gravity gradient. We study the influence of most
relevant experimental parameters on noise and long-term drifts. Results are
also applied to the case of doubly differential measurements of the
gravitational signal from local source masses. We achieve a short term
sensitivity of 3*10^(-9) g/Hz^(-1/2) to differential gravity acceleration,
limited by the quantum projection noise of the instrument. Active control of
the most critical parameters allows to reach a resolution of 5*10^(-11) g after
8000 s on the measurement of differential gravity acceleration. The long term
stability is compatible with a measurement of the gravitational constant G at
the level of 10^(-4) after an integration time of about 100 hours.Comment: 19 pages, 20 figure
The effect of wavefront aberrations in atom interferometry
Wavefront aberrations are one of the largest uncertainty factors in present
atom interferometers. We present a detailed numerical and experimental analysis
of this effect based on measured aberrations from optical windows. By placing
windows into the Raman beam path of our atomic gravimeter, we verify for the
first time the induced bias in very good agreement with theory. Our method can
be used to reduce the uncertainty in atomic gravimeters by one order of
magnitude resulting in an error of less than and it is
suitable in a wide variety of atom interferometers with thermal or ultra cold
atoms. We discuss the limitations of our method, potential improvements and its
role in future generation experiments.Comment: Applied Physics B, 201
Quantitative imaging of the complexity in liquid bubbles' evolution reveals the dynamics of film retraction
The dynamics and stability of thin liquid films have fascinated scientists
over many decades. Thin film flows are central to numerous areas of
engineering, geophysics, and biophysics and occur over a wide range of length,
velocity, and liquid properties scales. In spite of many significant
developments in this area, we still lack appropriate quantitative experimental
tools with the spatial and temporal resolution necessary for a comprehensive
study of film evolution. We propose tackling this problem with a holographic
technique that combines quantitative phase imaging with a custom setup designed
to form and manipulate bubbles. The results, gathered on a model aqueous
polymeric solution, provide an unparalleled insight into bubble dynamics
through the combination of full-field thickness estimation, three-dimensional
imaging, and fast acquisition time. The unprecedented level of detail offered
by the proposed methodology will promote a deeper understanding of the
underlying physics of thin film dynamics
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