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International Journal of Modern Physics D

ATOMIC QUANTUM SENSORS IN SPACE

Tim van Zoest, T. MÜLLER, Thijs Wendrich, Michael Gilowski, Ernst Maria Rasel, W. Ertmer, Thorben Könemann, Cláus Lämmerzahl, H. Dittus, Anika Vogel, Kai Bongs, K. Sengstock, Wojciech Lewoczko-Adamczyk, Achim Peters, T. Steinmetz, Jakob Reichel, G. Nandi, W. P. Schleich, R. Walser

Published Dec 1, 2007• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this article we present actual projects concerning high resolution measurements developed for future space missions based on ultracold atoms at the Institut für Quantenoptik (IQ) of the University of Hannover. This work involves the realization of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a microgravitational environment and of an inertial atomic quantum sensor.

DOI
10.1142/s0218271807011358

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International Journal of Modern Physics D•Dec 1, 2007•0 citations
In this article we present actual projects concerning high resolution measurements developed for future space missions based on ultracold atoms at the Institut für Quantenoptik (IQ) of the University of Hannover. This work involves the realization of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a microgravitational environment and of an inertial atomic quantum sensor.
Recent developments in quantum technology have resulted in a new generation of sensors for measuring inertial quantities, such as acceleration and rotation. These sensors can exhibit unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy when operated in space, where the free-fall interrogation time can be extended at will and where the environment noise is minimal. European laboratories have played a leading role in this field by developing concepts and tools to operate these quantum sensors in relevant environment, such as parabolic flights, free-fall towers, or sounding rockets. With the recent achievement of Bose–Einstein condensation on the International Space Station, the challenge is now to reach a technology readiness level sufficiently high at both component and system levels to provide “off the shelf” payload for future generations of space missions in geodesy or fundamental physics. In this roadmap, we provide an extensive review on the status of all common parts, needs, and subsystems for the application of atom-based interferometers in space, in order to push for the development of generic technology components.
Since the possibility of trapping and cooling neutral atoms, ultracold quantum gases have shifted boundaries in a growing field of modern physics based on the first observation of Bose-Einstein condensates in 1995 and appreciated by the Nobel Prizes in 1997 and 2001. The current developments in the domain of atom optics lead to an utilization of ultracold quantum matter techniques in unique practical applications as high-precision atomic clocks, atom interferometer technologies and inertial sensing instruments for gravity field mapping, underground structure detection, autonomous navigation, as well as precision measurements in fundamental physics. The expectations of even higher precision measurements can be performed by arbitrarily extending the time of unperturbed evolution of those quantum systems. In respect thereof weightlessness provides an outstanding basis for such applications and measurements. Motivated by these prospects, many national and international groups have initialized research programs aiming for compact, transportable and ruggedly designed atom-optical experiments, which might be launched in parabolic flights and space applications. Thanks to an easy access to low gravity on earth, realization of quantum degenerated gases in excellent microgravity conditions at the Drop Tower Bremen opened a new kind of perspectives on atom-optical experiments, e.g., to currently achieve longest expansion times of Bose-Einstein condensates within the QUANTUS pilot project (up to one second). Thus, ultracold quantum matter in an environment of weightlessness represents an emerging area of science in quantum engineering with an impressive potential for a future technology and multidisciplinary applications.
"What are atoms doing in space anyways?" This talk will provide a brief overview of applications of quantum technologies in space ranging from precise timing and inertial measurements to fundamental physics. Quantum technologies have seen a wide field of applications in medicine, geosciences, computing and communications, in many cases bridging the gap from laboratory experiments to commercial products in the last decade. For terrestrial applications that is. But what about going to space? Quantum physics based sensors and experiments promise higher accuracy, sensitivity or better long term stability as they rely on immutable properties of atoms. When properly manipulated, these (ultra-)cold atoms are likely to outperform state of the art instruments. Experiments conducted on sounding rockets demonstrated important steps like Bose-Einstein Condensate creation during a few minutes in microgravity, enabling more advanced quantum experiments in the future. The International Space Station and the Tiangong Space Station host dedicated experiments like ultrastable clocks as well as flexible research infrastructure for fundamental research benefitting from long free-fall times. However, the deployment of such technologies on satellites is not as advanced. Satellite missions utilizing quantum sensors or performing long term experiments are subject to studies and proposals backed by a broad scientific community aiming at better understanding of climate change, interplanetary navigation or tests of general relativity. First steps towards realization of such missions are taken by ESA, NASA and various national space agencies as well as universities funded by national agencies or the EU. This talk will detect the current state of atoms in space and give an overview of active programs to deploy quantum sensors on operational satellite missions. The focus is on future applications in geosciences and related fields employing the same technology.
Atomic quantum sensors are a major breakthrough in the technology of time and frequency standards as well as ultraprecise sensing and monitoring of accelerations and rotations. They apply a new kind of optics based on matter waves. Today, atomic clocks are the standard for time and frequency measurement at the highest precisions. Inertial and rotational sensors using atom interferometers have already shown similar potential for replacing state-of-the-art sensors in other fields. With Bose–Einstein condensates, also referred as atom lasers, the traditional experiments with atom interferometers can be greatly improved. Testing of fundamental principles, studies of atomic properties, applications as inertial sensors, and measurements of fundamental constants can benefit from the brightness (intensity and small momentum spread) of these coherent sources. In addition, the coherence properties of condensates may allow BEC-based atom interferometers to approach the Heisenberg detection limit. This corresponds to a measurement precision which scales like 1/N for N atoms and not like [Formula: see text] as for independent measurements on N atoms. We present here the recent progress toward the acheivement of new coherent atomic sources, i.e. atom lasers, that will be use in space-based atom interferometers. We introduce new concepts of atom accelerometers and gyrometers that take advantage of the high collimation and coherence properties of atoms lasers and report on the development of a 0-g coherent atom interferometer (ICE) that will be used to test the ultimate performances of atom accelerometers in space.