Mainz 2017 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 13: Precision Measurements and Metrology: Interferometry I (with Q)

A 13.4: Talk

Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 11:45–12:00, P 104

Infrasound gravitational wave detection with atoms — •Christian Schubert, Dennis Schlippert, Sven Abend, Naceur Gaaloul, Wolfgang Ertmer, and Ernst M. Rasel — Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover

Atom interferometry offers an interesting perspective for the detection of gravitational waves in a frequency band between eLISA and Advanced LIGO, resulting in an active field of research. Ground based setups with vertical or horizontal baselines were considered, satellite missions investigated, and interferometer topologies developed. We investigate a novel geometry for a ground based device combining several advantages as a horizontal baseline, enabling long baselines, a single axis laser link between the atom interferometers acting as phasemeters, and suppressing errors sources otherwise implying very strict requirements onto the atomic source. It is based on recent developments in symmetric large momentum beam splitters, relaunching techniques for suspending the atoms against gravity, and delta-kick collimation techniques to generate very slowly expanding atomic ensembles. The idea will be presented and the requirements discussed in comparison with previous proposals and the state of the art in atom optics. The work is supported by the CRC 1227 DQ-mat, the CRC 1128 geo-Q, the RTG 1729, the DFG Excellence Cluster QUEST, the QUEST-LFS, and by the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under Grant No. 50WM1552-1557.