Atom-interferometric test of the universality of gravitational redshift and free fall

authored by: Christian Ufrecht, Fabio Di Pumpo, Alexander Friedrich, Albert Roura, Christian Schubert, Dennis Schlippert, Ernst M. Rasel, Wolfgang P. Schleich, Enno Giese
Abstract: Light-pulse atom interferometers constitute powerful quantum sensors for inertial forces. They are based on delocalised spatial superpositions and the combination with internal transitions directly links them to atomic clocks. Since classical tests of the gravitational redshift are based on a comparison of two clocks localised at different positions under gravity, it is promising to explore whether the aforementioned interferometers constitute a competitive alternative for tests of general relativity. Here we present a specific geometry which together with state transitions leads to a scheme that is concurrently sensitive to both violations of the universality of free fall and gravitational redshift, two premises of general relativity. The proposed interferometer does not rely on a superposition of internal states, but merely on transitions between them, and therefore generalises the concept of physical atomic clocks and quantum-clock interferometry. An experimental realisation seems feasible with already demonstrated techniques in state-of-the-art facilities.
Organisation(s): Institute of Quantum Optics
QuantumFrontiers
CRC 1227 Designed Quantum States of Matter (DQ-mat)
External Organisation(s): Texas A and M University
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Ulm University
Type: Article
Journal: Phys. Rev. Research
Volume: 2
Publication date: 16.11.2020
Publication status: Published
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy(all)
Electronic version(s): https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.09754v1 (Access: Open)
https://elib.dlr.de/141366/1/PhysRevResearch.2.043240.pdf (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.043240 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{ccc7f6ba4ae0486db954afd84df712a6,
title = "Atom-interferometric test of the universality of gravitational redshift and free fall",
abstract = " Light-pulse atom interferometers constitute powerful quantum sensors for inertial forces. They are based on delocalised spatial superpositions and the combination with internal transitions directly links them to atomic clocks. Since classical tests of the gravitational redshift are based on a comparison of two clocks localised at different positions under gravity, it is promising to explore whether the aforementioned interferometers constitute a competitive alternative for tests of general relativity. Here we present a specific geometry which together with state transitions leads to a scheme that is concurrently sensitive to both violations of the universality of free fall and gravitational redshift, two premises of general relativity. The proposed interferometer does not rely on a superposition of internal states, but merely on transitions between them, and therefore generalises the concept of physical atomic clocks and quantum-clock interferometry. An experimental realisation seems feasible with already demonstrated techniques in state-of-the-art facilities. ",
keywords = "quant-ph, gr-qc, physics.atom-ph",
author = "Christian Ufrecht and Pumpo, {Fabio Di} and Alexander Friedrich and Albert Roura and Christian Schubert and Dennis Schlippert and Rasel, {Ernst M.} and Schleich, {Wolfgang P.} and Enno Giese",
year = "2020",
month = nov,
day = "16",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.043240",
language = "English",
volume = "2",
journal = "Phys. Rev. Research",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "4",
}