Quantum test of the Equivalence Principle: The STE-QUEST mission
- Paper number
IAC-13,A2,1,1,x16446
- Author
Dr. Naceur Gaaloul, Institute of Quantum Optics, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Thilo Schuldt, University of Applied Sciences Konstanz, Germany
- Coauthor
Prof.Dr. Claus Braxmaier, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Landragin Arnaud, Observatoire de Paris, France
- Coauthor
Dr. Philippe Bouyer, France
- Coauthor
Prof. Achim Peters, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
- Coauthor
Prof. Kai Bongs, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl, ZARM - University of Bremen, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Sven Herrmann, ZARM - University of Bremen, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Ernst Maria Rasel, Leibniz Universiät Hannover, Germany
- Year
2013
- Abstract
STE-QUEST aims for a test of General Relativity through testing the Universality of Free Fall with a dual species atom interferometer on a satellite. This test is based on measuring the differential acceleration of two test bodies assumed to be zero by Einstein’s Equivalence Principle (EP). The Eötvös ratio derived from the differential signal will be determined with an accuracy of parts in 1e-15 beyond state-of-the-art precision of 1e-13 established by lunar laser ranging and torsion balances. Quantum degenerated ensembles of Rb87 and Rb85 will act as test bodies in the dual species interferometer and would show the first quantum test of the EP. Due to the weightlessness conditions in space these test masses will be simultaneously prepared and interrogated with a free evolution time of 10 s. Within a single cycle of 20 s a shot noise limited sensitivity to accelerations of 3e-12 m/s2 is anticipated. The simultaneous interferometry is carried out in a double diffraction Mach-Zehnder geometry. Challenges in this mission lie both in suppressing noise and bias terms as well as in the accommodation to the limited resources of a satellite. In the talk the measurement principle will presented, an overview of the preliminary payload design will be given, and the estimated error budget will be discussed. The STE-QUEST is a proposal for an M3 mission in the frame of the Cosmic Vision program of ESA.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)