6 research outputs found
Ultracold atom interferometry in space
Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in free fall constitute a promising source for space-borne interferometry. Indeed, BECs enjoy a slowly expanding wave function, display a large spatial coherence and can be engineered and probed by optical techniques. Here we explore matter-wave fringes of multiple spinor components of a BEC released in free fall employing light-pulses to drive Bragg processes and induce phase imprinting on a sounding rocket. The prevailing microgravity played a crucial role in the observation of these interferences which not only reveal the spatial coherence of the condensates but also allow us to measure differential forces. Our work marks the beginning of matter-wave interferometry in space with future applications in fundamental physics, navigation and earth observation
Design of a dual species atom interferometer for space
Atom interferometers have a multitude of proposed applications in space
including precise measurements of the Earth's gravitational field, in
navigation & ranging, and in fundamental physics such as tests of the weak
equivalence principle (WEP) and gravitational wave detection. While atom
interferometers are realized routinely in ground-based laboratories, current
efforts aim at the development of a space compatible design optimized with
respect to dimensions, weight, power consumption, mechanical robustness and
radiation hardness. In this paper, we present a design of a high-sensitivity
differential dual species Rb/Rb atom interferometer for space,
including physics package, laser system, electronics and software. The physics
package comprises the atom source consisting of dispensers and a 2D
magneto-optical trap (MOT), the science chamber with a 3D-MOT, a magnetic trap
based on an atom chip and an optical dipole trap (ODT) used for Bose-Einstein
condensate (BEC) creation and interferometry, the detection unit, the vacuum
system for mbar ultra-high vacuum generation, and the
high-suppression factor magnetic shielding as well as the thermal control
system. The laser system is based on a hybrid approach using fiber-based
telecom components and high-power laser diode technology and includes all laser
sources for 2D-MOT, 3D-MOT, ODT, interferometry and detection. Manipulation and
switching of the laser beams is carried out on an optical bench using Zerodur
bonding technology. The instrument consists of 9 units with an overall mass of
221 kg, an average power consumption of 608 W (819 W peak), and a volume of 470
liters which would well fit on a satellite to be launched with a Soyuz rocket,
as system studies have shown.Comment: 30 pages, 23 figures, accepted for publication in Experimental
Astronom
STE-QUEST - Test of the Universality of Free Fall Using Cold Atom Interferometry
In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom
interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the
atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources
Space-borne Bose–Einstein condensation for precision interferometry
Owing to the low-gravity conditions in space, space-borne laboratories enable experiments with extended free-fall times. Because Bose–Einstein condensates have an extremely low expansion energy, space-borne atom interferometers based on Bose–Einstein condensation have the potential to have much greater sensitivity to inertial forces than do similar ground-based interferometers. On 23 January 2017, as part of the sounding-rocket mission MAIUS-1, we created Bose–Einstein condensates in space and conducted 110 experiments central to matter-wave interferometry, including laser cooling and trapping of atoms in the presence of the large accelerations experienced during launch. Here we report on experiments conducted during the six minutes of in-space flight in which we studied the phase transition from a thermal ensemble to a Bose–Einstein condensate and the collective dynamics of the resulting condensate. Our results provide insights into conducting cold-atom experiments in space, such as precision interferometry, and pave the way to miniaturizing cold-atom and photon-based quantum information concepts for satellite-based implementation. In addition, space-borne Bose–Einstein condensation opens up the possibility of quantum gas experiments in low-gravity conditions1,2