Probing gravity by holding atoms for 20 seconds

Victoria Xu; Matt Jaffe; Cristian D. Panda; Sofus L. Kristensen; Logan W. Clark; Holger Mueller

doi:10.1126/science.aay6428

Probing gravity by holding atoms for 20 seconds

Victoria Xu, Matt Jaffe, Cristian D. Panda, Sofus L. Kristensen, Logan W. Clark, Holger Mueller

Kvanteoptik

27 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Atom interferometers are powerful tools for both measurements in fundamental physics and inertial sensing applications. Their performance, however, has been limited by the available interrogation time of freely falling atoms in a gravitational field. By suspending the spatially separated atomic wave packets in a lattice formed by the mode of an optical cavity, we realize an interrogation time of 20 seconds. Our approach allows gravitational potentials to be measured by holding, rather than dropping, atoms. After seconds of hold time, gravitational potential energy differences from as little a micrometers of vertical separation generate megaradians of interferometer phase. This trapped geometry suppresses the phase variance due to vibrations by three to four orders of magnitude, overcoming the dominant noise source in atom-interferometric gravimeters.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Science
Vol/bind	366
Udgave nummer	6466
Sider (fra-til)	745-749
ISSN	0036-8075
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay6428
Status	Udgivet - 8 nov. 2019

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10.1126/science.aay6428

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abstract = "Atom interferometers are powerful tools for both measurements in fundamental physics and inertial sensing applications. Their performance, however, has been limited by the available interrogation time of freely falling atoms in a gravitational field. By suspending the spatially separated atomic wave packets in a lattice formed by the mode of an optical cavity, we realize an interrogation time of 20 seconds. Our approach allows gravitational potentials to be measured by holding, rather than dropping, atoms. After seconds of hold time, gravitational potential energy differences from as little a micrometers of vertical separation generate megaradians of interferometer phase. This trapped geometry suppresses the phase variance due to vibrations by three to four orders of magnitude, overcoming the dominant noise source in atom-interferometric gravimeters.",

author = "Victoria Xu and Matt Jaffe and Panda, {Cristian D.} and Kristensen, {Sofus L.} and Clark, {Logan W.} and Holger Mueller",

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doi = "10.1126/science.aay6428",

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T1 - Probing gravity by holding atoms for 20 seconds

AU - Xu, Victoria

AU - Jaffe, Matt

AU - Panda, Cristian D.

AU - Kristensen, Sofus L.

AU - Clark, Logan W.

AU - Mueller, Holger

PY - 2019/11/8

Y1 - 2019/11/8

N2 - Atom interferometers are powerful tools for both measurements in fundamental physics and inertial sensing applications. Their performance, however, has been limited by the available interrogation time of freely falling atoms in a gravitational field. By suspending the spatially separated atomic wave packets in a lattice formed by the mode of an optical cavity, we realize an interrogation time of 20 seconds. Our approach allows gravitational potentials to be measured by holding, rather than dropping, atoms. After seconds of hold time, gravitational potential energy differences from as little a micrometers of vertical separation generate megaradians of interferometer phase. This trapped geometry suppresses the phase variance due to vibrations by three to four orders of magnitude, overcoming the dominant noise source in atom-interferometric gravimeters.

AB - Atom interferometers are powerful tools for both measurements in fundamental physics and inertial sensing applications. Their performance, however, has been limited by the available interrogation time of freely falling atoms in a gravitational field. By suspending the spatially separated atomic wave packets in a lattice formed by the mode of an optical cavity, we realize an interrogation time of 20 seconds. Our approach allows gravitational potentials to be measured by holding, rather than dropping, atoms. After seconds of hold time, gravitational potential energy differences from as little a micrometers of vertical separation generate megaradians of interferometer phase. This trapped geometry suppresses the phase variance due to vibrations by three to four orders of magnitude, overcoming the dominant noise source in atom-interferometric gravimeters.

U2 - 10.1126/science.aay6428

DO - 10.1126/science.aay6428

M3 - Journal article

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SN - 0036-8075

VL - 366

SP - 745

EP - 749

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6466

ER -

Probing gravity by holding atoms for 20 seconds

Abstract

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