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Ultracold atom interferometry in space

Lachmann, Maike and Ahlers, Holger and Becker, Dennis and Dinkelaker, Aline Nathalie and Grosse, Jens and Hellmig, Ortwin and Müntinga, Hauke and Schkolnik, Vladimir and Seidel, Stephan and Wendrich, Thijs and Wenzlawski, Andre and Carrick, Benjamin and Gaaloul, Naceur and Lüdtke, Daniel and Braxmaier, Claus and Ertmer, Wolfgang and Krutzik, Markus and Lämmerzahl, Claus and Peters, Achim and Schleich, Wolfgang and Sengstock, Klaus and Wicht, Andreas and Windpassinger, Patrick and Rasel, Ernst (2021) Ultracold atom interferometry in space. Nature Communications, 12 (1317). Nature Publishing Group. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21628-z. ISSN 2041-1723.

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Abstract

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in free fall constitute a promising source for space-borne interferometry. Indeed, BECs enjoy a slowly expanding wave function, display a large spatial coherence and can be engineered and probed by optical techniques. Here we explore matter-wave fringes of multiple spinor components of a BEC released in free fall employing light-pulses to drive Bragg processes and induce phase imprinting on a sounding rocket. The prevailing microgravity played a crucial role in the observation of these interferences which not only reveal the spatial coherence of the condensates but also allow us to measure differential forces. Our work marks the beginning of matter-wave interferometry in space with future applications in fundamental physics, navigation and earth observation.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/140859/
Document Type:Article
Title:Ultracold atom interferometry in space
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iD
Lachmann, MaikeLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIED
Ahlers, HolgerLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIED
Becker, DennisLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIED
Dinkelaker, Aline NathalieHumboldt-Universität BerlinUNSPECIFIED
Grosse, JensUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Hellmig, OrtwinInstitut für Laserphysik, Universität HamburgUNSPECIFIED
Müntinga, HaukeUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schkolnik, Vladimirinstitut für physik, humboldt-universität zu berlin, berlin, germanyUNSPECIFIED
Seidel, StephanLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIED
Wendrich, ThijsLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIED
Wenzlawski, AndreInstitut für Laserphysik, Universität HamburgUNSPECIFIED
Carrick, BenjaminUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Gaaloul, NaceurLeibniz University of Hannover, GermanyUNSPECIFIED
Lüdtke, DanielUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6758-1562
Braxmaier, ClausUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Ertmer, WolfgangInstitut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, GermanyUNSPECIFIED
Krutzik, MarkusHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinUNSPECIFIED
Lämmerzahl, ClausZARM, University of Bremen, GermanyUNSPECIFIED
Peters, AchimHumboldt University Berlin, GermanyUNSPECIFIED
Schleich, WolfgangInstitut für Quantenphysik, Universität UlmUNSPECIFIED
Sengstock, KlausUniversity of Hamburg, GermanyUNSPECIFIED
Wicht, AndreasFerdinand-Braun-InstitutUNSPECIFIED
Windpassinger, PatrickInstitut für Laserphysik, Universität HamburgUNSPECIFIED
Rasel, ErnstInstitut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, GermanyUNSPECIFIED
Date:26 February 2021
Journal or Publication Title:Nature Communications
Refereed publication:Yes
Open Access:Yes
Gold Open Access:Yes
In SCOPUS:Yes
In ISI Web of Science:Yes
Volume:12
DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-21628-z
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:2041-1723
Status:Published
Keywords:Bose-Einstein condensates
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Space System Technology
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R SY - Space System Technology
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - Systems Engineering Optische Systeme (old), R - Fundamental physics
Location: Braunschweig , Bremen , Ulm , other
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Space Systems > Systems Enabling Technologies
Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing > Relativistic Modelling
Institute for Software Technology > Software for Space Systems and Interactive Visualisation
Institute of Quantum Technologies > Quantum Metrology
Institute of Quantum Technologies > Theoretical Quantum Physics
Deposited By: Hamann, Ines
Deposited On:09 Feb 2021 09:36
Last Modified:25 Jun 2021 16:53

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