Determination of the Newtonian Gravitational Constant Using Atom Interferometry

We present a new measurement of the Newtonian gravitational constant G based on cold atom interferometry. Freely falling samples of laser-cooled rubidium atoms are used in a gravity gradiometer to probe the field generated by nearby source masses. In addition to its potential sensitivity, this method is intriguing as gravity is explored by a quantum system. We report a value of G=6.667 10^{-11} m^{3} kg^{-1} s^{-2}, estimating a statistical uncertainty of $\pm$ 0.011 10^{-11} m^{3} kg^{-1} s^{-2} and a systematic uncertainty of $\pm$ 0.003 10^{-11} m^{3} kg^{-1} s^{-2}. The long-term stability of the instrument and the signal-to-noise ratio demonstrated here open interesting perspectives for pushing the measurement accuracy below the 100 ppm level.Comment: 4 figure

Remarks to solve disagreement between Gravity anisotropy and constraints on the variation of Gravitational constant (big G) based on gravimetric data: Reply to "Nano-constraints on the spatial anisotropy of the Gravitational Constant"

Remarks to solve disagreement between Gravity anisotropy observed at decimeter distances and constraints on the spatial variation of Gravitational constant (big G) based on gravimetric data and Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) experiments. Disagreement disappears when we assume that Gravitational anisotropy may depend on the magnitudes of the interacting masses and the distance between them