29 research outputs found
ELGAR - A European Laboratory for Gravitation and Atom-interferometric Research
Gravitational waves (GWs) were observed for the first time in 2015, one century after Einstein predicted their existence. There is now growing interest to extend the detection bandwidth to low frequency. The scientific potential of multi-frequency GW astronomy is enormous as it would enable to obtain a more complete picture of cosmic events and mechanisms. This is a unique and entirely new opportunity for the future of astronomy, the success of which depends upon the decisions being made on existing and new infrastructures. The prospect of combining observations from the future space-based instrument LISA together with third generation ground based detectors will open the way toward multi-band GW astronomy, but will leave the infrasound (0.1–10 Hz) band uncovered. GW detectors based on matter wave interferometry promise to fill such a sensitivity gap. We propose the European Laboratory for Gravitation and Atom-interferometric Research (ELGAR), an underground infrastructure based on the latest progress in atomic physics, to study space–time and gravitation with the primary goal of detecting GWs in the infrasound band. ELGAR will directly inherit from large research facilities now being built in Europe for the study of large scale atom interferometry and will drive new pan-European synergies from top research centers developing quantum sensors. ELGAR will measure GW radiation in the infrasound band with a peak strain sensitivity of 3.3 x 10 [hoch]-20 / [Wurzel] Hz at 1.7 Hz. The antenna will have an impact on diverse fundamental and applied research fields beyond GW astronomy, including gravitation, general relativity, and geology
AEDGE: Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration in Space
We propose in this White Paper a concept for a space experiment using cold
atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, and to detect gravitational waves
in the frequency range between the most sensitive ranges of LISA and the
terrestrial LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA/INDIGO experiments. This interdisciplinary
experiment, called Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration
(AEDGE), will also complement other planned searches for dark matter, and
exploit synergies with other gravitational wave detectors. We give examples of
the extended range of sensitivity to ultra-light dark matter offered by AEDGE,
and how its gravitational-wave measurements could explore the assembly of
super-massive black holes, first-order phase transitions in the early universe
and cosmic strings. AEDGE will be based upon technologies now being developed
for terrestrial experiments using cold atoms, and will benefit from the space
experience obtained with, e.g., LISA and cold atom experiments in microgravity.
This paper is based on a submission (v1) in response to the Call for White
Papers for the Voyage 2050 long-term plan in the ESA Science Programme. ESA
limited the number of White Paper authors to 30. However, in this version (v2)
we have welcomed as supporting authors participants in the Workshop on Atomic
Experiments for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration held at CERN: ({\tt
https://indico.cern.ch/event/830432/}), as well as other interested scientists,
and have incorporated additional material
Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map
We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies
Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map
We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies.publishedVersio
Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map
We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies
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Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map
We summarise the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and national space and research funding agencies
ELGAR -- a European Laboratory for Gravitation and Atom-interferometric Research
Gravitational Waves (GWs) were observed for the first time in 2015, one
century after Einstein predicted their existence. There is now growing interest
to extend the detection bandwidth to low frequency. The scientific potential of
multi-frequency GW astronomy is enormous as it would enable to obtain a more
complete picture of cosmic events and mechanisms. This is a unique and entirely
new opportunity for the future of astronomy, the success of which depends upon
the decisions being made on existing and new infrastructures. The prospect of
combining observations from the future space-based instrument LISA together
with third generation ground based detectors will open the way towards
multi-band GW astronomy, but will leave the infrasound (0.1 Hz to 10 Hz) band
uncovered. GW detectors based on matter wave interferometry promise to fill
such a sensitivity gap. We propose the European Laboratory for Gravitation and
Atom-interferometric Research (ELGAR), an underground infrastructure based on
the latest progress in atomic physics, to study space-time and gravitation with
the primary goal of detecting GWs in the infrasound band. ELGAR will directly
inherit from large research facilities now being built in Europe for the study
of large scale atom interferometry and will drive new pan-European synergies
from top research centers developing quantum sensors. ELGAR will measure GW
radiation in the infrasound band with a peak strain sensitivity of at 1.7 Hz. The antenna will have an impact on
diverse fundamental and applied research fields beyond GW astronomy, including
gravitation, general relativity, and geology
Multi-photon Atom Interferometry via cavity-enhanced Bragg Diffraction
Optical cavities are long expected as powerful tools for the realization of large momentum beam splitters for matter waves. In this letter, we realize a multi-photon atom interferometer driven via Bragg diffraction in an optical resonator. The key element of this demonstration is the use of a degenerate cavity to mediate the light-matter interaction which provides a large interrogation mode (1/e^2 diameter of 5.2 mm) and makes the method applicable to a vast class of measurement geometries and atom sources. In view of a future application for gravitational waves detection, we use, as a first demonstration, a standard sub-Doppler cooled atomic source coupled with a 80 cm horizontal resonator and obtain a momentum transfer of up to 2n = 8ħk. Additionally, by varying the tilt of experiment, and thus the projection of gravity, we study the inertial sensitivity of this setup using significantly reduced optical power (<1 mW) due to the optical gain of the cavity. This work opens new perspectives not only for the realization of high sensitivity multi-axis inertial atom sensors, but also for the future realization of hybrid atom/optical gravitational wave detectors