Western Australia is becoming the premier southern hemisphere hub for high-precision ground-space timing missions. The University of Western Australia (UWA) is currently building a state-of-the-art optical atomic clock, and has been selected as the only southern hemisphere microwave-frequency ground station for the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) mission. We propose to construct a 60 km section of optical fibre to complete a link between UWA and the Yarragadee Satellite Laser Ranging facility and thereby enabling an optical link for the ACES and Space-Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence Principle Space Test (STE-QUEST) missions.Western Australia is becoming the premier southern hemisphere hub for high-precision ground-space timing missions. The University of Western Australia (UWA) is currently building a state-of-the-art optical atomic clock, and has been selected as the only southern hemisphere microwave-frequency ground station for the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) mission. We propose to construct a 60 km section of optical fibre to complete a link between UWA and the Yarragadee Satellite Laser Ranging facility and thereby enabling an optical link for the ACES and Space-Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence Principle Space Test (STE-QUEST) missions.

May 22, 20130 citations

In search of quantum reality

Foundations of Physics LettersOct 1, 19890 citations

STE-QUEST -- Space Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence principle Space Test: The 2022 medium-class mission concept

Naceur Gaaloul, Holger Ahlers, Leonardo Badurina +45 more

Space-borne quantum technologies, particularly those based on atom interferometry, are heralding a new era of strategic and robust space exploration. The unique conditions of space, characterized by low noise and low gravity environments, open up diverse possibilities for applications ranging from precise time and frequency transfer to Earth Observation and the search of new Physics. In this paper, we summarise the M-class mission proposal in response to the 2022 call in ESA's science program: Space-Time Explorer and Quantum Equivalence Principle Space Test (STE-QUEST). It consists in a satellite mission featuring a dual-species atom interferometer operating over extended durations. This mission aims to tackle three of the most fundamental questions in Physics: (i) testing the universality of free fall with an accuracy better than one part in $10^{-17}$ , (ii) exploring various forms of Ultra-Light Dark Matter, and (iii) scrutinizing the foundations of Quantum Mechanics.Space-borne quantum technologies, particularly those based on atom interferometry, are heralding a new era of strategic and robust space exploration. The unique conditions of space, characterized by low noise and low gravity environments, open up diverse possibilities for applications ranging from precise time and frequency transfer to Earth Observation and the search of new Physics. In this paper, we summarise the M-class mission proposal in response to the 2022 call in ESA's science program: Space-Time Explorer and Quantum Equivalence Principle Space Test (STE-QUEST). It consists in a satellite mission featuring a dual-species atom interferometer operating over extended durations. This mission aims to tackle three of the most fundamental questions in Physics: (i) testing the universality of free fall with an accuracy better than one part in $10^{-17}$, (ii) exploring various forms of Ultra-Light Dark Matter, and (iii) scrutinizing the foundations of Quantum Mechanics.

arXiv:2211.15412Nov 28, 202214 citations

In search of quantum reality

Foundations of PhysicsNov 1, 19890 citations

10^{-17}

, (ii) exploring various forms of Ultra-Light Dark Matter, and (iii) scrutinizing the foundations of Quantum Mechanics.