Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2005.11919 · Chinese Physics B

Suppression of Coriolis error in weak equivalence principle test using 85Rb–87Rb dual-species atom interferometer*

Wei-Tao Duan, Chuan He, Sitong Yan, Yu-Hang Ji, Lin Zhou, Xi Chen, Jin Wang, Mingsheng Zhan

Published May 27, 2020• 11 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Coriolis effect is an important error source in the weak equivalence principle (WEP) test using atom interferometer. In this paper, the problem of Coriolis error in WEP test is studied theoretically and experimentally. In theoretical simulation, the Coriolis effect is analyzed by establishing an error model. The measurement errors of Eötvös coefficient (η) in WEP test related to experimental parameters, such as horizontal-velocity difference and horizontal-position difference of atomic clouds, horizontal-position difference of detectors, and rotation compensation of Raman laser’s mirror are calculated. In experimental investigation, the position difference between 85Rb and 87Rb atomic clouds is reduced to 0.1 mm by optimizing the experimental parameters, an alternating detection method is used to suppress the error caused by detection position difference, thus the Coriolis error related to the atomic clouds and detectors is reduced to 1.1× 10−9. This Coriolis error is further corrected by compensating the rotation of Raman laser’s mirror, and the total uncertainty of η measurement related to the Coriolis effect is reduced as δη = 4.4 × 10−11.

DOI
10.1088/1674-1056/ab969a

Related papers

Test of Equivalence Principle at 1 0 − 8 Level by a Dual-Species Double-Diffraction Raman Atom Interferometer

Lin Zhou, Shitong Long, Biao Tang +9 more

We report an improved test of the weak equivalence principle by using a simultaneous $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ dual-species atom interferometer. We propose and implement a four-wave double-diffraction Raman transition scheme for the interferometer, and demonstrate its ability in suppressing common-mode phase noise of Raman lasers after their frequencies and intensity ratios are optimized. The statistical uncertainty of the experimental data for E\"otv\"os parameter $\ensuremath{\eta}$ is $0.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ at 3200 s. With various systematic errors corrected, the final value is $\ensuremath{\eta}=(2.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.0)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$. The major uncertainty is attributed to the Coriolis effect.

arXiv:1503.00401•Physical Review Letters•Jul 2, 2015•283 citations

In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry

Dan-Fang Zhang, Jing-Ting Li, Wen-Zhang Wang +22 more

The Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) is a central pillar of general relativity. Its precise test with quantum systems in space offers a unique window onto new physics. Here we report the first in-orbit quantum test of the WEP. A dual-species (85Rb/87Rb) atom interferometer is realized aboard the China Space Station. Methods of platform motion suppression, fluorescence detection switching, and two-photon detuning switching are developed to eliminate phase noise and improve measurement accuracy. A test uncertainty of 2.8*10-8 is obtained from 280 days of WEP test data, and a test result of (-3.1+/-4.6)*10-7 is achieved after error estimation. This improves prior atom-interferometric WEP tests in microgravity by three orders of magnitude. This work paves the way for space-borne quantum inertial sensors and their application to future fundamental physics in space.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2603.22981•Science Advances•Mar 25, 2026•1 citation

Analysis and suppression of wave-front-aberration phase noise in weak-equivalence-principle tests using dual-species atom interferometers

Jiangong Hu, Xi Chen, Jie Fang +4 more

The wave-front aberration of Raman beams induces phase noise in atom interferometers and thus limits the performance of atom interferometers. We theoretically analyze the wave-front-aberration phase noise in weak-equivalence-principle tests using dual-species atom interferometers, and propose an expansion-rate-selection method to suppress the wave-front-aberration phase noise in both isotopic and nonisotopic atom interferometers. The suppression ratio is about 10 at the expense of half the number of atoms. The simulation based on appropriate experimental parameters shows that the wave-front aberration caused standard deviations to the E\"otv\"os coefficient in weak-equivalence-principle tests using $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{41}\mathrm{K}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ are $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ and $3.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$. Better results can be obtained by improving the wave-front quality and utilizing atom cloud with lower temperature. The analysis and suppression of wave-front-aberration phase noise will be useful for the design of high-precision atom interferometer--based weak-equivalence-principle tests both on ground and in space.

Physical Review A•Aug 21, 2017•19 citations

Atom-interferometric test of the equivalence principle at the 10^-12 level

Chris Overstreet, Mark A. Kasevich

We use a dual-species atom interferometer with 2 s of free-fall time to measure the relative acceleration between 85Rb and 87Rb wave packets in the Earth's gravitational field. Systematic errors arising from kinematic differences between the isotopes are suppressed by calibrating the angles and frequencies of the interferometry beams. We find an Eötvös parameter of [1.6 +/- 1.8 (stat) +/- 3.4 (syst)] x 10^-12, consistent with zero violation of the equivalence principle. With a resolution of up to 1.4 x 10^-11 g per shot, we demonstrate the highest sensitivity to the Eötvös parameter of any laboratory experiment.

Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology•Mar 4, 2021•23 citations

Possible Improvements in the Precision of the Atom-interferometric Equivalence Principle Test by Reducing AC Stark Shift Uncertainty

Xinyi Liu

We discussed possible improvement methods for a dual-species atom interferometry test of the weak equivalence principle (WEP) at the 10^(-12) level. The original research tested the WEP by comparing the acceleration difference of the free-fallen rubidium isotopes atom clouds. Based on the percent uncertainty presented from this test, AC stark shift is the most significant obstacle to improving precision. This article will discuss a precision-improving method to the original test by suppressing the background AC stark shift by centering the interferometry lasers to their "magic frequency." The expected improved precision of the uncertainty level is below the 10^(-18) level. Due to the limitation of instruments, we have yet to test this improving method in the actual measurement. Still, we analyzed the possible difficulties in practical usage and discussed solving strategies that correspond to the problems.

Theoretical and Natural Science•May 25, 2023•0 citations

Effective Inertial Frame in an Atom Interferometric Test of the Equivalence Principle

Chris Overstreet, Peter Asenbaum, Tim Kovachy +3 more

In an ideal test of the equivalence principle, the test masses fall in a common inertial frame. A real experiment is affected by gravity gradients, which introduce systematic errors by coupling to initial kinematic differences between the test masses. Here we demonstrate a method that reduces the sensitivity of a dual-species atom interferometer to initial kinematics by using a frequency shift of the mirror pulse to create an effective inertial frame for both atomic species. Using this method, we suppress the gravity-gradient-induced dependence of the differential phase on initial kinematic differences by 2 orders of magnitude and precisely measure these differences. We realize a relative precision of Δg/g≈6×10^{-11} per shot, which improves on the best previous result for a dual-species atom interferometer by more than 3 orders of magnitude. By reducing gravity gradient systematic errors to one part in 10^{13}, these results pave the way for an atomic test of the equivalence principle at an accuracy comparable with state-of-the-art classical tests.

arXiv:1711.09986•Physical Review Letters•May 4, 2018•133 citations
Coriolis effect is an important error source in the weak equivalence principle (WEP) test using atom interferometer. In this paper, the problem of Coriolis error in WEP test is studied theoretically and experimentally. In theoretical simulation, the Coriolis effect is analyzed by establishing an error model. The measurement errors of Eötvös coefficient (η) in WEP test related to experimental parameters, such as horizontal-velocity difference and horizontal-position difference of atomic clouds, horizontal-position difference of detectors, and rotation compensation of Raman laser’s mirror are calculated. In experimental investigation, the position difference between 85Rb and 87Rb atomic clouds is reduced to 0.1 mm by optimizing the experimental parameters, an alternating detection method is used to suppress the error caused by detection position difference, thus the Coriolis error related to the atomic clouds and detectors is reduced to 1.1× 10−9. This Coriolis error is further corrected by compensating the rotation of Raman laser’s mirror, and the total uncertainty of η measurement related to the Coriolis effect is reduced as δη = 4.4 × 10−11.
We report an improved test of the weak equivalence principle by using a simultaneous $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ dual-species atom interferometer. We propose and implement a four-wave double-diffraction Raman transition scheme for the interferometer, and demonstrate its ability in suppressing common-mode phase noise of Raman lasers after their frequencies and intensity ratios are optimized. The statistical uncertainty of the experimental data for E\"otv\"os parameter $\ensuremath{\eta}$ is $0.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ at 3200 s. With various systematic errors corrected, the final value is $\ensuremath{\eta}=(2.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.0)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1{0}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$. The major uncertainty is attributed to the Coriolis effect.
The Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) is a central pillar of general relativity. Its precise test with quantum systems in space offers a unique window onto new physics. Here we report the first in-orbit quantum test of the WEP. A dual-species (85Rb/87Rb) atom interferometer is realized aboard the China Space Station. Methods of platform motion suppression, fluorescence detection switching, and two-photon detuning switching are developed to eliminate phase noise and improve measurement accuracy. A test uncertainty of 2.8*10-8 is obtained from 280 days of WEP test data, and a test result of (-3.1+/-4.6)*10-7 is achieved after error estimation. This improves prior atom-interferometric WEP tests in microgravity by three orders of magnitude. This work paves the way for space-borne quantum inertial sensors and their application to future fundamental physics in space.
The wave-front aberration of Raman beams induces phase noise in atom interferometers and thus limits the performance of atom interferometers. We theoretically analyze the wave-front-aberration phase noise in weak-equivalence-principle tests using dual-species atom interferometers, and propose an expansion-rate-selection method to suppress the wave-front-aberration phase noise in both isotopic and nonisotopic atom interferometers. The suppression ratio is about 10 at the expense of half the number of atoms. The simulation based on appropriate experimental parameters shows that the wave-front aberration caused standard deviations to the E\"otv\"os coefficient in weak-equivalence-principle tests using $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{41}\mathrm{K}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ are $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}14}$ and $3.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$. Better results can be obtained by improving the wave-front quality and utilizing atom cloud with lower temperature. The analysis and suppression of wave-front-aberration phase noise will be useful for the design of high-precision atom interferometer--based weak-equivalence-principle tests both on ground and in space.
We use a dual-species atom interferometer with 2 s of free-fall time to measure the relative acceleration between 85Rb and 87Rb wave packets in the Earth's gravitational field. Systematic errors arising from kinematic differences between the isotopes are suppressed by calibrating the angles and frequencies of the interferometry beams. We find an Eötvös parameter of [1.6 +/- 1.8 (stat) +/- 3.4 (syst)] x 10^-12, consistent with zero violation of the equivalence principle. With a resolution of up to 1.4 x 10^-11 g per shot, we demonstrate the highest sensitivity to the Eötvös parameter of any laboratory experiment.
We discussed possible improvement methods for a dual-species atom interferometry test of the weak equivalence principle (WEP) at the 10^(-12) level. The original research tested the WEP by comparing the acceleration difference of the free-fallen rubidium isotopes atom clouds. Based on the percent uncertainty presented from this test, AC stark shift is the most significant obstacle to improving precision. This article will discuss a precision-improving method to the original test by suppressing the background AC stark shift by centering the interferometry lasers to their "magic frequency." The expected improved precision of the uncertainty level is below the 10^(-18) level. Due to the limitation of instruments, we have yet to test this improving method in the actual measurement. Still, we analyzed the possible difficulties in practical usage and discussed solving strategies that correspond to the problems.
In an ideal test of the equivalence principle, the test masses fall in a common inertial frame. A real experiment is affected by gravity gradients, which introduce systematic errors by coupling to initial kinematic differences between the test masses. Here we demonstrate a method that reduces the sensitivity of a dual-species atom interferometer to initial kinematics by using a frequency shift of the mirror pulse to create an effective inertial frame for both atomic species. Using this method, we suppress the gravity-gradient-induced dependence of the differential phase on initial kinematic differences by 2 orders of magnitude and precisely measure these differences. We realize a relative precision of Δg/g≈6×10^{-11} per shot, which improves on the best previous result for a dual-species atom interferometer by more than 3 orders of magnitude. By reducing gravity gradient systematic errors to one part in 10^{13}, these results pave the way for an atomic test of the equivalence principle at an accuracy comparable with state-of-the-art classical tests.