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Quantum Science and Technology

Exploring the quantum world with a third generation ultra-cold atom facility

Robert J. Thompson, David C. Aveline, Sheng‐wey Chiow, Ethan Elliott, James R. Kellogg, James M. Kohel, Matteo Sbroscia, L Phillips, Christian Schneider, J. R. Williams, N. P. Bigelow, Peter Engels, Nathan E. Lundblad, Charles A. Sackett, Lisa Wörner

Published Nov 16, 2022• 7 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We briefly describe a ‘third generation’ follow-on to the Cold Atom Lab mission, currently operating aboard the ISS and the Bose–Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Lab mission, which is expected to launch in 2026. This mission would feature a modular design that would allow critical hardware to be optimized for specific investigations while allowing easy exchange with other hardware to enable a multi-user facility.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/aca34f

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Ultra-cold quantum gases in space promise to boost the sensitivity of matter-wave interferometers. Applications of the latter extend from fundamental physics over the use in navigation to interdisciplinary applications such as geodesy, e.g. satellite gravimetry [1, 2]. Exploiting quantum gases for high-precision interferometry places high demands on their control and manipulation. We take benefit of various microgravity platforms such as the Bremen drop tower [3], the Einstein elevator in Hannover [4], sounding rockets [5,6] and the international space station [7] to advance the necessary methods. The DLR-mission MAIUS-1 demonstrated Bose-Einstein condensation and performed first interferometry experiments [4]. NASA’s Cold Atom Laboratory continues this research in orbit on the ISS [7]. In addition, atom interferometry is pursued in highly dynamic environments such as parabolic flights [8]. Starting from a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate, recently lowest expansion energies have been achieved by us in the Bremen drop tower as required for extending atom interferometry over several seconds [9]. Extending these methods to quantum mixtures not only opens up new physics in the absence of buoyancy, but also faces challenges regarding their use for interferometry. Interferometers based on two chemical elements have been proposed for quantum tests of the equivalence principle on the ISS as well as on satellites. Currently we prepare a sounding rocket mission to investigate the simultaneous generation and manipulation of potassium and rubidium condensates [10]. Together with CAL [7], these experiments will prepare the DLR-NASA multi-user facility BECCAL for research on quantum gas mixtures and interferometry [11] as well as enhance the readiness level of methods required for STE-QUEST [12], a proposal for a satellite mission currently studied in an modified version within ESA’s VOYAGE 2050 program [13].