Design of a dual species atom interferometer for space

Abstract

Atom interferometers have a multitude of proposed applications in space including precise measurements of the Earth's gravitational field, in navigation & ranging, and in fundamental physics such as tests of the weak equivalence principle (WEP) and gravitational wave detection. While atom interferometers are realized routinely in ground-based laboratories, current efforts aim at the development of a space compatible design optimized with respect to dimensions, weight, power consumption, mechanical robustness and radiation hardness. In this paper, we present a design of a high-sensitivity differential dual species ${}^{85}$Rb/${}^{87}$Rb atom interferometer for space, including physics package, laser system, electronics and software. The physics package comprises the atom source consisting of dispensers and a 2D magneto-optical trap (MOT), the science chamber with a 3D-MOT, a magnetic trap based on an atom chip and an optical dipole trap (ODT) used for Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) creation and interferometry, the detection unit, the vacuum system for $10^{-11}$ mbar ultra-high vacuum generation, and the high-suppression factor magnetic shielding as well as the thermal control system. The laser system is based on a hybrid approach using fiber-based telecom components and high-power laser diode technology and includes all laser sources for 2D-MOT, 3D-MOT, ODT, interferometry and detection. Manipulation and switching of the laser beams is carried out on an optical bench using Zerodur bonding technology. The instrument consists of 9 units with an overall mass of 221 kg, an average power consumption of 608 W (819 W peak), and a volume of 470 liters which would well fit on a satellite to be launched with a Soyuz rocket, as system studies have shown.

30 pages, 23 figures, accepted for publication in Experimental Astronomy

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• Enhanced association and dissociation of heteronuclear Feshbach molecules in a microgravity environment
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• Obtaining a scalar fifth force via a broken-symmetry couple between the scalar field and matter
• Aberrations in (3+1)D Bragg diffraction using pulsed Gaussian laser beams
• Micro-integrated crossed-beam optical dipole trap system with long-term alignment stability for mobile atomic quantum technologies
• Simultaneous dual-species laser cooling using an optical frequency comb
• PCB Transducer Coil Design for a Low-Noise Magnetic Measurement System in Space Missions
• Hybrid electrostatic-atomic accelerometer for future space gravity missions