The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The spacetime explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the universality of free fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose–Einstein condensates of 85Rb and 87Rb. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the E¨otv¨os parameter of at least 2 × 10−15. In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources.

STE-QUEST—test of the universality of free fall using cold atom interferometry / D. N. Aguilera; H. Ahlers; B. Battelier; A. Bawamia; A. Bertoldi; R. Bondarescu; K. Bongs; P. Bouyer; C. Braxmaier; L. Cacciapuoti; C. Chaloner; M. Chwalla; W. Ertmer; M. Franz; N. Gaaloul; M. Gehler; D. Gerardi; L. Gesa; N. G.¨urlebeck; J. Hartwig; M. Hauth; O. Hellmig; W. Herr; S. Herrmann; A. Heske; A. Hinton; P. Ireland; P. Jetzer; U. Johann; M. Krutzik; A. Kubelka; C. L.¨ammerzahl; A. Landragin; I. Lloro; D. Massonnet; I. Mateos; A. Milke; M. Nofrarias; M. Oswald; A. Peters; K. Posso-Trujillo; E. Rasel; E. Rocco; A. Roura; J. Rudolph; W. Schleich; C. Schubert; T. Schuldt; S. Seidel; K. Sengstock; C. F. Sopuerta; F. Sorrentino; D. Summers; G. M. Tino; C Trenkel; N Uzunoglu; W. von Klitzing; R. Walser; T. Wendrich; A. Wenzlawski; P. Weßels; A. Wicht; E. Wille; M. Williams; P. Windpassinger; N. Zahzam. - In: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY. - ISSN 0264-9381. - STAMPA. - 31:(2014), pp. 1-18. [10.1088/0264-9381/31/11/115010]

STE-QUEST—test of the universality of free fall using cold atom interferometry

TINO, GUGLIELMO MARIA;
2014

Abstract

The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The spacetime explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the universality of free fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose–Einstein condensates of 85Rb and 87Rb. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the E¨otv¨os parameter of at least 2 × 10−15. In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources.
2014
31
1
18
D. N. Aguilera; H. Ahlers; B. Battelier; A. Bawamia; A. Bertoldi; R. Bondarescu; K. Bongs; P. Bouyer; C. Braxmaier; L. Cacciapuoti; C. Chaloner; M. Chwalla; W. Ertmer; M. Franz; N. Gaaloul; M. Gehler; D. Gerardi; L. Gesa; N. G.¨urlebeck; J. Hartwig; M. Hauth; O. Hellmig; W. Herr; S. Herrmann; A. Heske; A. Hinton; P. Ireland; P. Jetzer; U. Johann; M. Krutzik; A. Kubelka; C. L.¨ammerzahl; A. Landragin; I. Lloro; D. Massonnet; I. Mateos; A. Milke; M. Nofrarias; M. Oswald; A. Peters; K. Posso-Trujillo; E. Rasel; E. Rocco; A. Roura; J. Rudolph; W. Schleich; C. Schubert; T. Schuldt; S. Seidel; K. Sengstock; C. F. Sopuerta; F. Sorrentino; D. Summers; G. M. Tino; C Trenkel; N Uzunoglu; W. von Klitzing; R. Walser; T. Wendrich; A. Wenzlawski; P. Weßels; A. Wicht; E. Wille; M. Williams; P. Windpassinger; N. Zahzam
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2014_Aguilera.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Versione finale referata (Postprint, Accepted manuscript)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 686.74 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
686.74 kB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/866346
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 194
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 168
social impact