We report the realization of a matter-wave interferometer based on Raman transitions which simultaneously interrogates two different atomic species ( ${}^{87}$ Rb and ${}^{85}$ Rb). The simultaneous aspect of our experiment presents encouraging preliminary results for future dual-species atom interferometry projects and seems very promising by taking advantage of a differential acceleration measurement. Indeed, the resolution of our differential accelerometer remains lower than $3.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{g}$ even with vibration levels up to $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{g}$ thanks to common-mode vibration noise rejection. An atom-based test of the weak equivalence principle has also been carried out leading to a differential free fall measurement between both isotopes of $\ensuremath{\Delta}g/g=(1.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$.We report the realization of a matter-wave interferometer based on Raman transitions which simultaneously interrogates two different atomic species (${}^{87}$Rb and ${}^{85}$Rb). The simultaneous aspect of our experiment presents encouraging preliminary results for future dual-species atom interferometry projects and seems very promising by taking advantage of a differential acceleration measurement. Indeed, the resolution of our differential accelerometer remains lower than $3.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{g}$ even with vibration levels up to $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{g}$ thanks to common-mode vibration noise rejection. An atom-based test of the weak equivalence principle has also been carried out leading to a differential free fall measurement between both isotopes of $\ensuremath{\Delta}g/g=(1.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$.

arXiv:1307.2734Physical Review AOct 11, 2013175 citations

Characterization of a simultaneous dual-species atom interferometer for a quantum test of the weak equivalence principle

Alexis Bonnin, Nassim Zahzam, Yannick Bidel +1 more

We present here the performance of a simultaneous dual-species matter-wave accelerometer for measuring the differential acceleration between two different atomic species ( $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ ). We study the expression and the extraction of the differential phase from the interferometer output. The differential accelerometer reaches a short-term sensitivity of $1.23\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}g/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ limited by the detection noise and a resolution of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}g$ after 11 000 s, a very high sensitivity using a dual-species atom interferometer. Thanks to the simultaneous measurement, such resolution levels can still be achieved even with vibration levels up to $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}g$, corresponding to a common-mode vibration noise rejection ratio of 94 dB (rejection factor of 50 000). These results prove the ability of such atom sensors for realizing a quantum-based test of the weak equivalence principle at a level of $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ even with high vibration levels and a compact sensor.We present here the performance of a simultaneous dual-species matter-wave accelerometer for measuring the differential acceleration between two different atomic species ($^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$). We study the expression and the extraction of the differential phase from the interferometer output. The differential accelerometer reaches a short-term sensitivity of $1.23\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}g/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ limited by the detection noise and a resolution of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}g$ after 11 000 s, a very high sensitivity using a dual-species atom interferometer. Thanks to the simultaneous measurement, such resolution levels can still be achieved even with vibration levels up to $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}g$, corresponding to a common-mode vibration noise rejection ratio of 94 dB (rejection factor of 50 000). These results prove the ability of such atom sensors for realizing a quantum-based test of the weak equivalence principle at a level of $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ even with high vibration levels and a compact sensor.

arXiv:1506.06535Physical Review AAug 18, 201551 citations

We report the realization of a matter-wave interferometer based on Raman transitions which simultaneously interrogates two different atomic species (

{}^{87}

Rb and

{}^{85}

Rb). The simultaneous aspect of our experiment presents encouraging preliminary results for future dual-species atom interferometry projects and seems very promising by taking advantage of a differential acceleration measurement. Indeed, the resolution of our differential accelerometer remains lower than $3.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{g}$ even with vibration levels up to $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\text{g}$ thanks to common-mode vibration noise rejection. An atom-based test of the weak equivalence principle has also been carried out leading to a differential free fall measurement between both isotopes of $\ensuremath{\Delta}g/g=(1.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$.

We present here the performance of a simultaneous dual-species matter-wave accelerometer for measuring the differential acceleration between two different atomic species (

^{87}\mathrm{Rb}

and

^{85}\mathrm{Rb}

). We study the expression and the extraction of the differential phase from the interferometer output. The differential accelerometer reaches a short-term sensitivity of $1.23\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}g/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ limited by the detection noise and a resolution of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}g$ after 11 000 s, a very high sensitivity using a dual-species atom interferometer. Thanks to the simultaneous measurement, such resolution levels can still be achieved even with vibration levels up to $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}g$, corresponding to a common-mode vibration noise rejection ratio of 94 dB (rejection factor of 50 000). These results prove the ability of such atom sensors for realizing a quantum-based test of the weak equivalence principle at a level of $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ even with high vibration levels and a compact sensor.