Dresden 2011 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 57: Poster 3: Quantengase, Ultrakalte Atome, Ultrakalte Moleküle, Materiewellen Optik, Präzisionsmessungen, Metrologie

Q 57.104: Poster

Donnerstag, 17. März 2011, 16:30–19:30, P1

A fiber-based femtosecond frequency comb for precision measurements in microgravity — •Andreas Resch, Claus Lämmerzahl, and Sven Herrmann — ZARM Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359 Bremen

We use a compact fiber-based femtosecond frequency comb in the microgravity environment of the Bremen drop tower at ZARM to explore possible applications in precision experiments, both earthbound and space-based. To this end we have acquired a frequency comb that was designed specifically for the use in a drop tower experiment. The prospective application of this frequency comb is in an experiment that tests the universality of free fall from a differential measurement of a dual species atom interferometer. Due to the extended time of free fall available in the microgravity environment of the drop tower, and ultimately on board the International Space Station, the sensitivity of such an atom interferometer will be significantly enhanced as compared to earthbound laboratory experiments. In order to do a precision measurement of the differential phase of the atom interferometers we will use the frequency comb in two ways: First to lock the lasers at 780 nm and 767 nm to the comb's lines, secondly to generate a microwave signal, from which the Raman splitting frequencies can be derived. In order to generate the low-noise microwave signal, the frequency comb will be stabilized to an optical high-finesse cavity. We acknowledge support by the German Space Agency DLR with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) under grant number DLR 50 WM 0842.