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Pathfinder experiments with atom interferometry in the Cold Atom Lab onboard the International Space Station

Author

Listed:
  • Jason R. Williams

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Charles A. Sackett

    (University of Virginia)

  • Holger Ahlers

    (Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing)

  • David C. Aveline

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Patrick Boegel

    (Ulm University)

  • Sofia Botsi

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Eric Charron

    (Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay)

  • Ethan R. Elliott

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Naceur Gaaloul

    (QUEST-Leibniz Research School)

  • Enno Giese

    (Institut für Angewandte Physik)

  • Waldemar Herr

    (Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing)

  • James R. Kellogg

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • James M. Kohel

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Norman E. Lay

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Matthias Meister

    (Institute of Quantum Technologies)

  • Gabriel Müller

    (QUEST-Leibniz Research School)

  • Holger Müller

    (University of California)

  • Kamal Oudrhiri

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Leah Phillips

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Annie Pichery

    (Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay
    QUEST-Leibniz Research School)

  • Ernst M. Rasel

    (QUEST-Leibniz Research School)

  • Albert Roura

    (Institute of Quantum Technologies)

  • Matteo Sbroscia

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Wolfgang P. Schleich

    (Ulm University
    Texas A&M University
    Texas A&M University
    Texas A&M University)

  • Christian Schneider

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Christian Schubert

    (Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing)

  • Bejoy Sen

    (University of Virginia)

  • Robert J. Thompson

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Nicholas P. Bigelow

    (Center for Coherence and Quantum Optics, University of Rochester)

Abstract

Deployment of ultracold atom interferometers (AI) into space will capitalize on quantum advantages and the extended freefall of persistent microgravity to provide high-precision measurement capabilities for gravitational, Earth, and planetary sciences, and to enable searches for subtle forces signifying physics beyond General Relativity and the Standard Model. NASA’s Cold Atom Lab (CAL) operates onboard the International Space Station as a multi-user facility for fundamental studies of ultracold atoms and to mature space-based quantum technologies. We report on pathfinding experiments utilizing ultracold 87Rb atoms in the CAL AI. A three-pulse Mach–Zehnder interferometer was studied to understand the influence of ISS vibrations. Additionally, Ramsey shear-wave interferometry was used to manifest interference patterns in a single run that were observable for over 150 ms free-expansion time. Finally, the CAL AI was used to remotely measure the Bragg laser photon recoil as a demonstration of the first quantum sensor using matter-wave interferometry in space.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason R. Williams & Charles A. Sackett & Holger Ahlers & David C. Aveline & Patrick Boegel & Sofia Botsi & Eric Charron & Ethan R. Elliott & Naceur Gaaloul & Enno Giese & Waldemar Herr & James R. Kell, 2024. "Pathfinder experiments with atom interferometry in the Cold Atom Lab onboard the International Space Station," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50585-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50585-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ethan R. Elliott & David C. Aveline & Nicholas P. Bigelow & Patrick Boegel & Sofia Botsi & Eric Charron & José P. D’Incao & Peter Engels & Timothé Estrampes & Naceur Gaaloul & James R. Kellogg & James, 2023. "Quantum gas mixtures and dual-species atom interferometry in space," Nature, Nature, vol. 623(7987), pages 502-508, November.
    2. Dennis Becker & Maike D. Lachmann & Stephan T. Seidel & Holger Ahlers & Aline N. Dinkelaker & Jens Grosse & Ortwin Hellmig & Hauke Müntinga & Vladimir Schkolnik & Thijs Wendrich & André Wenzlawski & B, 2018. "Space-borne Bose–Einstein condensation for precision interferometry," Nature, Nature, vol. 562(7727), pages 391-395, October.
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