Erlangen 2022 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 3: Precision Measurements and Metrology I
Q 3.7: Talk
Monday, March 14, 2022, 15:30–15:45, Q-H11
Space-borne Atom Interferometry for Tests of General Relativity — •Christian Struckmann1, Ernst M. Rasel1, Peter Wolf2, and Naceur Gaaloul1 — 1Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, D-30167 Hannover, Germany — 2LNE-SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université 61 avenue de l’Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France
Quantum sensors based on the interference of matter waves provide an exceptional access to test the postulates of general relativity by comparing the free-fall acceleration of matter waves of different composition. Space-borne quantum tests of the universality of free fall (UFF) promise to exploit the full potential of these sensors due to long free-fall times, and to reach unprecedented performance beyond current limits set by classical experiments.
In this contribution, we present a dedicated satellite mission to test the UFF with ultra-cold atoms to 10-17 as proposed to the ESA Voyage 2050 initiative [Battelier et al., Exploring the foundations of the physical universe with space tests of the equivalence principle, Experimental Astronomy (2021)]. To this end, we highlight our model for suppressing spurious error terms [Loriani et al., PRD 102, 124043 (2020)] and outline our work on a dedicated simulator for satellite-based atom interferometry, which will be an indispensable tool for the detailed analysis of future space mission scenarios.