We report on the realization of a matter-wave interferometer based on single-photon interaction on the ultranarrow optical clock transition of strontium atoms. We experimentally demonstrate its ...operation as a gravimeter and as a gravity gradiometer. No reduction of interferometric contrast was observed for a total interferometer time up to ∼10 ms, limited by geometric constraints of the apparatus. Single-photon interferometers represent a new class of high-precision sensors that could be used for the detection of gravitational waves in so far unexplored frequency ranges and to enlighten the boundary between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
We propose and analyze a method that allows for the production of squeezed states of the atomic center-of-mass motion that can be injected into an atom interferometer. Our scheme employs dispersive ...probing in a ring resonator on a narrow transition in order to provide a collective measurement of the relative population of two momentum states. We show that this method is applicable to a Bragg diffraction-based strontium atom interferometer with large diffraction orders. This technique can be extended also to small diffraction orders and large atom numbers N by inducing atomic transparency at the frequency of the probe field, reaching an interferometer phase resolution scaling Δϕ∼N^{-3/4}. We show that for realistic parameters it is possible to obtain a 20 dB gain in interferometer phase estimation compared to the standard quantum limit. Our method is applicable to other atomic species where a narrow transition is available or can be synthesized.
Based on fundamental symmetries, molecules cannot have a permanent electric dipole moment, although it is commonly used in the literature to explain the different molecular spectra for heteronuclear ...and homonuclear molecules. Electric-dipole rotational and vibrational spectra can indeed be observed in heteronuclear molecules, while they are missing in molecules with identical nuclei. This paper shows that the missing spectral features can be explained as an effect of the exchange symmetry for identical particles.
We characterize the performance of a gravimeter and a gravity gradiometer based on the 1S0-3P0 clock transition of strontium atoms. We use this new quantum sensor to measure the gravitational ...acceleration with a relative sensitivity of after 150 s of integration time, representing the first realisation of an atomic interferometry gravimeter based on a single-photon transition. Various noise contributions to the gravimeter are measured and characterized, with the current primary limitation to sensitivity seen to be the intrinsic noise of the interferometry laser itself. In a gravity gradiometer configuration, a differential phase sensitivity of 1.53 rad was achieved at an artificially introduced differential phase of rad. We experimentally investigated the effects of the contrast and visibility based on various parameters and achieved a total interferometry time of 30 ms, which is longer than previously reported for such interferometers. The characterization and determined limitations of the present apparatus employing 88Sr atoms provides a guidance for the future development of large-scale clock-transition gravimeters and gravity gradiometers with alkali-earth and alkali-earth-like atoms (e.g. 87Sr, Ca, Yb, Cd).
SAGE: A proposal for a space atomic gravity explorer Tino, Guglielmo M.; Bassi, Angelo; Bianco, Giuseppe ...
The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics,
11/2019, Letnik:
73, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The proposed mission “Space Atomic Gravity Explorer” (SAGE) has the scientific objective to investigate gravitational waves, dark matter, and other fundamental aspects of gravity as well as the ...connection between gravitational physics and quantum physics using new quantum sensors, namely, optical atomic clocks and atom interferometers based on ultracold strontium atoms.
Graphical abstract
We present in detail the scientific objectives in fundamental physics of the Space–Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence Space Test (STE–QUEST) space mission. STE–QUEST was pre-selected by the ...European Space Agency together with four other missions for the cosmic vision M3 launch opportunity planned around 2024. It carries out tests of different aspects of the Einstein Equivalence Principle using atomic clocks, matter wave interferometry and long distance time/frequency links, providing fascinating science at the interface between quantum mechanics and gravitation that cannot be achieved, at that level of precision, in ground experiments. We especially emphasize the specific strong interest of performing Equivalence Principle tests in the quantum regime, i.e. using quantum atomic wave interferometry. Although STE–QUEST was finally not selected in early 2014 because of budgetary and technological reasons, its science case was very highly rated. Our aim is to expose that science to a large audience in order to allow future projects and proposals to take advantage of the STE–QUEST experience.
We use the results of ultraprecise cold-atom-recoil experiments to constrain the form of the energy-momentum dispersion relation, a structure that is expected to be modified in several ...quantum-gravity approaches. Our strategy of analysis applies to the nonrelativistic (small speeds) limit of the dispersion relation, and is therefore complementary to an analogous ongoing effort of investigation of the dispersion relation in the ultrarelativistic regime using observations in astrophysics. For the leading correction in the nonrelativistic limit the exceptional sensitivity of cold-atom-recoil experiments remarkably allows us to set a limit within a single order of magnitude of the desired Planck-scale level, thereby providing the first example of Planck-scale sensitivity in the study of the dispersion relation in controlled laboratory experiments.
We present the scientific motivation for future space tests of the equivalence principle, and in particular the universality of free fall, at the 10
− 17
level or better. Two possible mission ...scenarios, one based on quantum technologies, the other on electrostatic accelerometers, that could reach that goal are briefly discussed. This publication is a White Paper written in the context of the Voyage 2050 ESA Call for White Papers.
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