Hannover 2010 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 21: Poster I
Q 21.34: Poster
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 16:00–19:00, Lichthof
Atom interferometry in microgravity — •Markus Krutzik1, Achim Peters1, and das QUANTUS Team1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 — 1Institut für Physik, HU Berlin — 2Institut für Quantenoptik, LU Hannover — 3ZARM, Uni Bremen — 4Institut für Quantenoptik, Uni Ulm — 5Institut für Laserphysik, Uni Hamburg — 6IAP, TU Darmstadt — 7MPQ, Garching — 8FBH, Berlin — 9Midlands Ultracold Atom Research Centre, University of Birmingham, UK
Microgravity promises to substantially extend the science of degenerate quantum gases towards nowadays inaccessible regimes of low temperatures, macroscopic dimensions of coherent matter waves and longer unperturbed evolution. To utilize this excellent environment for interferometry schemes and applications like inertial quantum sensors with high precision is one of the main goals of the QUANTUS project.
As a source for coherent matter waves we use a Bose-Einstein condensate of Rubidium 87, whose ultra-long free evolution of 1 second in microgravity was already demonstrated at the drop tower in Bremen (ZARM). In order to realize a Mach-Zehnder interferometer we choose Bragg diffraction as a coherent beam splitting process. With this setup we are able to measure spatial and temporal coherences in the extended parameter regime available during free fall.
In addition we are working on a dual-species interferometer with Bose-Fermi gases. With this new apparatus we focus on precision measurements of the universality of the free fall. A major experimental challenge is to design catapult capable Raman laser systems, which have to withstand 30g accelerations during the catapult launch.