Quantum sensors for future gravity missions

Kurzfassung

Quantum sensors utilising atom interferometry offer new perspectives for future gravity missions. The atom interferometer therein promises long-term stable measurements, complementing or possibly replacing established sensor concepts. Several different experiments based on this principle demonstrated measurements of accelerations and gravity gradients. Additionally, dedicated setups showed operation in microgravity environments and tested concepts for space missions. A core feature is the robust generation of Bose-Einstein condensates with subsequent matter-wave collimation as a well-defined input state to enable extended times of free fall and suppress error terms. We will introduce the principle of atom interferometry, present the state of the art in interferometers with Bose-Einstein condensates, especially microgravity activities, and discuss concepts for the implementation in future space missions.