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
