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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 iDORCID Put Code
Lachmann, MaikeLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Ahlers, HolgerLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Becker, DennisLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Dinkelaker, Aline NathalieHumboldt-Universität BerlinUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Grosse, JensUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Hellmig, OrtwinInstitut für Laserphysik, Universität HamburgUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Müntinga, HaukeUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schkolnik, Vladimirinstitut für physik, humboldt-universität zu berlin, berlin, germanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Seidel, StephanLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Wendrich, ThijsLUH, Leibniz University of HannoverUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Wenzlawski, AndreInstitut für Laserphysik, Universität HamburgUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Carrick, BenjaminUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Gaaloul, NaceurLeibniz University of Hannover, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Lüdtke, DanielUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6758-1562UNSPECIFIED
Braxmaier, ClausUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Ertmer, WolfgangInstitut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Krutzik, MarkusHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Lämmerzahl, ClausZARM, University of Bremen, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Peters, AchimHumboldt University Berlin, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Schleich, WolfgangInstitut für Quantenphysik, Universität UlmUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Sengstock, KlausUniversity of Hamburg, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Wicht, AndreasFerdinand-Braun-InstitutUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Windpassinger, PatrickInstitut für Laserphysik, Universität HamburgUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Rasel, ErnstInstitut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, GermanyUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
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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