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arXiv · 0705.2922

I.C.E.: An Ultra-Cold Atom Source for Long-Baseline Interferometric Inertial Sensors in Reduced Gravity

Gaël Varoquaux·Nassim Zahzam·Walid Chaibi·Jean-François Clément·Olivier Carraz·Jean-Philippe Brantut·Robert A. Nyman·Franck Pereira Dos Santos·Linda Mondin·Michel Rouzé·Yannick Bidel·Alexandre Bresson·Arnaud Landragin·Philippe Bouyer
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Abstract

The accuracy and precision of current atom-interferometric inertialsensors rival state-of-the-art conventional devices using artifact-based test masses . Atomic sensors are well suited for fundamental measurements of gravito-inertial fields. The sensitivity required to test gravitational theories can be achieved by extending the baseline of the interferometer. The I.C.E. (Interférométrie Cohérente pour l'Espace) interferometer aims to achieve long interrogation times in compact apparatus via reduced gravity. We have tested a cold-atom source during airplane parabolic flights. We show that this environment is compatible with free-fall interferometric measurements using up to 4 second interrogation time. We present the next-generation apparatus using degenerate gases for low release-velocity atomic sources in space-borne experiments.

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Gaël Varoquaux, Nassim Zahzam, Walid Chaibi, Jean-François Clément, Olivier Carraz, Jean-Philippe Brantut, Robert A. Nyman, Franck Pereira Dos Santos, Linda Mondin, Michel Rouzé, Yannick Bidel, Alexandre Bresson, Arnaud Landragin, Philippe Bouyer. 2007-05-22. I.C.E.: An Ultra-Cold Atom Source for Long-Baseline Interferometric Inertial Sensors in Reduced Gravity. https://arxiv.org/abs/0705.2922

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