Magnetometry with a space-based differential atom interferometer

Meister, Matthias and Müller, Gabriel and Boegel, Patrick and Roura, Albert and Pichery, Annie and Reinhardt, David and Estrampes, Timothé and Ströhle, Jannik and Giese, Enno and Ahlers, Holger and Herr, Waldemar and Schubert, Christian and Charron, Eric and Müller, Holger and Williams, Jason and Rasel, Ernst and Schleich, Wolfgang and Gaaloul, Naceur and Bigelow, Nicholas P. (2026) Magnetometry with a space-based differential atom interferometer. Nature Communications (17), p. 6089. Nature Publishing Group. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-75230-2. ISSN 2041-1723.

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Official URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-75230-2

Abstract

Atom interferometers deployed in space are excellent tools for high precision measurements, navigation, or Earth observation. In particular, differential interferometric setups feature common-mode noise suppression and enable reliable measurements in the presence of ambient platform noise. Here we report on orbital magnetometry campaigns performed with differential single- and double-loop interferometers in NASA's Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station. By comparing measurements with atoms in magnetically sensitive and insensitive states, we have realized atomic magnetometers mapping magnetic field curvatures. Our results pave the way towards precision quantum sensing missions in space.

Item URL in elib:

https://elib.dlr.de/225881/

Document Type:

Article

Title:

Magnetometry with a space-based differential atom interferometer

Authors:

Authors	Institution or Email of Authors	Author's ORCID iD	ORCID Put Code
Meister, Matthias	Matthias.Meister (at) dlr.de	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7210-8588	UNSPECIFIED
Müller, Gabriel	Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Boegel, Patrick	Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Roura, Albert	Albert.Roura (at) dlr.de	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8049-8982	UNSPECIFIED
Pichery, Annie	Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Quantenoptik;Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Reinhardt, David	david.reinhardt (at) dlr.de	https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0981-2838	222508022
Estrampes, Timothé	Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Ströhle, Jannik	Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Giese, Enno	Institut für Angewandte Physik, Technische Universität Darmstadt	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Ahlers, Holger	Holger.Ahlers (at) dlr.de	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Herr, Waldemar	Waldemar.Herr (at) dlr.de	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3685-2729	UNSPECIFIED
Schubert, Christian	Christian.Schubert (at) dlr.de	https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1991-5379	222508023
Charron, Eric	Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1660-6368	UNSPECIFIED
Müller, Holger	Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Williams, Jason	Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Rasel, Ernst	Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Schleich, Wolfgang	Institut für Quantenphysik, Universität Ulm	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Gaaloul, Naceur	Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8233-5848	UNSPECIFIED
Bigelow, Nicholas P.	Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED

Date:

11 July 2026

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

DOI:

10.1038/s41467-026-75230-2

Page Range:

p. 6089

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

ISSN:

2041-1723

Status:

Published

Keywords:

Atominterferometrie, Bose-Einstein-Kondensat, Quantensensor, Magnetfeldmessung, Schwerelosigkeit, Internationale Raumstation

HGF - Research field:

Aeronautics, Space and Transport

HGF - Program:

Space

HGF - Program Themes:

Communication, Navigation, Quantum Technology

DLR - Research area:

Raumfahrt

DLR - Program:

R KNQ - Communication, Navigation, Quantum Technology

DLR - Research theme (Project):

R - Project BECCAL, R - Project Q-GRAV – Interface quantum and gravitation, R - AICEF | AICEF – Atom Interferometers and Clocks for Earth observation and Fundamental research

Location:

Hannover , Ulm

Institutes and Institutions:

Institute of Quantum Technologies > Theoretical Quantum Physics
Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing > Quantum Sensing

Deposited By:

Meister, Dr. Matthias

Deposited On:

02 Aug 2026 11:23

Last Modified:

02 Aug 2026 11:23

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