Ultracold atom interferometry in space.
Journal
Nature communications
ISSN: 2041-1723
Titre abrégé: Nat Commun
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101528555
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
26 Feb 2021
26 Feb 2021
Historique:
received:
07
12
2020
accepted:
03
02
2021
entrez:
27
2
2021
pubmed:
28
2
2021
medline:
28
2
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in free fall constitute a promising source for space-borne interferometry. Indeed, BECs enjoy a slowly expanding wave function, display a large spatial coherence and can be engineered and probed by optical techniques. Here we explore matter-wave fringes of multiple spinor components of a BEC released in free fall employing light-pulses to drive Bragg processes and induce phase imprinting on a sounding rocket. The prevailing microgravity played a crucial role in the observation of these interferences which not only reveal the spatial coherence of the condensates but also allow us to measure differential forces. Our work marks the beginning of matter-wave interferometry in space with future applications in fundamental physics, navigation and earth observation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33637769
doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21628-z
pii: 10.1038/s41467-021-21628-z
pmc: PMC7910597
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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