Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design of a dual species atom interferometer for space

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Experimental Astronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Atom interferometers have a multitude of proposed applications in space including precise measurements of the Earth’s gravitational field, in navigation & ranging, and in fundamental physics such as tests of the weak equivalence principle (WEP) and gravitational wave detection. While atom interferometers are realized routinely in ground-based laboratories, current efforts aim at the development of a space compatible design optimized with respect to dimensions, weight, power consumption, mechanical robustness and radiation hardness. In this paper, we present a design of a high-sensitivity differential dual species 85Rb/87Rb atom interferometer for space, including physics package, laser system, electronics and software. The physics package comprises the atom source consisting of dispensers and a 2D magneto-optical trap (MOT), the science chamber with a 3D-MOT, a magnetic trap based on an atom chip and an optical dipole trap (ODT) used for Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) creation and interferometry, the detection unit, the vacuum system for 10−11 mbar ultra-high vacuum generation, and the high-suppression factor magnetic shielding as well as the thermal control system. The laser system is based on a hybrid approach using fiber-based telecom components and high-power laser diode technology and includes all laser sources for 2D-MOT, 3D-MOT, ODT, interferometry and detection. Manipulation and switching of the laser beams is carried out on an optical bench using Zerodur bonding technology. The instrument consists of 9 units with an overall mass of 221 kg, an average power consumption of 608 W (814 W peak), and a volume of 470 liters which would well fit on a satellite to be launched with a Soyuz rocket, as system studies have shown.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gauguet, A., et al.: Characterization and limits of a cold-atom Sagnac interferometer. Phys. Rev. A 80, 063604 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Müller, T., et al.: A compact atom interferometer gyroscope based on laser-cooled rubidium. Eur. Phys. J. D 53, 273–281 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Stockton, J.K., et al.: Absolute geodetic rotation measurement using atom interferometry. Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 133001 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tackmann, G., et al.: Self-alignment of a compact large-area atomic Sagnac interferometer. New. J. Phys. 14, 015002 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Canuel, B., et al.: Six-axis inertial sensor using cold-atom interferometry. Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 010402 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Peters, A., et al.: Measurement of gravitational acceleration by dropping atoms. Nature 400, 849 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Louchet-Chauvet, A., et al.: The influence of transverse motion within an atomic gravimeter. New. J. Phys. 13, 065025 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. McGuirk, J.M., et al.: Sensitive absolute-gravity gradiometry using atom interferometry. Phys. Rev. A 65, 033608 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bonnin, A., et al.: Simultaneous dual-species matter-wave accelerometer. Phys. Rev. A 88, 043615 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Graham, P.W., et al.: A New method for gravitational wave detection with atomic sensors. Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 171102 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hogan, J.M., et al.: An atomic gravitational wave interferometric sensor in Low earth orbit (AGIS-LEO). Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 43, 1953–2009 (2011)

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Drinkwater, M. R., et al.: GOCE: ESA’s first earth explorer core mission. In: Beutler, G. B. Drinkwater, M. Rummel, R. Steiger, R. (Eds.), Earth Gravity Field from Space - from Sensors to Earth Sciences. In the Space Sciences Series of ISSI, Vol. 18, 419–432, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands, ISBN: 1-4020-1408-2 (2003)

  13. Reigber, C. et al.: Earth gravity field and seasonal variability from CHAMP. In: Reigber, C. Lühr,H. Wickert, J. (Edss) Earth Observation with CHAMP – Results from Three Years in Orbit, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 25–30

  14. Tapley, B. D. et al.: The gravity recovery and climate experiment: mission overview and early results, doi:10.1029/2004GL019779

  15. Kohel, J. M. et al.: Quantum gravity gradiometer development for space, proc. of the sixth annual NASA science technology conference, ESTC (2006)

  16. Carraz, O. et al., spaceborne gravity gradiometer concept based on cold atom interferometers for measuring earth’s gravity field, arXiv:1406.0765 (2014)

  17. Dubois, J.-B. et al.: Microscope, a femto-g accelerometry mission: technologies and mission overview, Proceedings of the 4S Symposium: Small Satellite Systems and Services, Chia Laguna Sardinia, Italy, Sept. 25–29, 2006, ESA SP-618

  18. STE-QUEST team: STE-QUEST Assessment Study Report (Yellow Book), ESA, http://sci.esa.int/ste-quest/53445-ste-quest-yellow-book (2013). Accessed 22 September 2014

  19. Aguilera, D., et al.: STE-QUEST - test of the universality of free fall using cold atom interferometry. Class. Quantum. Grav. 31, 115010 (2014)

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hechenblaikner, G. et al.: STE-QUEST mission and system design. overview after completion of Phase-A, Exp. Astron., 2014, doi:10.1007/s10686-014-9373-6

  21. Tino, G.M., et al.: Precision gravity tests with atom interferometry in space. Nucl. Physics B (Proc. Suppl.) 243–244, 203–217 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Abadie, J., et al.: All-sky search for gravitational-wave bursts in the first joint LIGO-GEO-Virgo run. Phys. Rev. D 81, 102001 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Danzmann, K. et al.: The gravitational universe, eLISA white paper

  24. Schubert, C. et al.: Differential atom interferometry with 87Rb and 85Rb for testing the UFF in STE-QUEST, Preprint: arXiv:1312.5963v1 (2013)

  25. Fray, S., et al.: Atomic interferometer with amplitude gratings of light and its applications to atom based tests of the equivalence principle. Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 240404 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Biedermann, G.W., et al.: Low-noise simultaneous fluorescence detection of two atomic states. Opt. Lett. 34, 347 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sorrentino, F., et al.: A compact atom interferometer for future space missions, microgravity. Sci. Technol 22(4), 551–561 (2010)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  28. Sorrentino, F. et al.: The Space Atom Interferometer project: status and prospects, J. Physics. Conf. Series 327, 012050 (2011)

  29. van Zoest, T., et al.: Bose-einstein condensation in microgravity. Science 328, 1540 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rudolph, J., et al.: Degenerate quantum gases in microgravity. Micrograv. Sci. Technol. 23, 287 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Nyman, R.A. et al.: I.C.E.: A transportable atomic inertial sensor for test in microgravity, Appl. Phys. B. 84, 673, (2006)

  32. Geiger, R., et al.: Detecting inertial effects with airborne matter-wave interferometry. Nat. Comm. 2, 474 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Müntinga, H., et al.: Interferometry with Bose-Einstein condensates in microgravity. Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 093602 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Dieckmann, K., et al.: Two-dimensional magneto-optical trap as a source of slow atoms. Phys. Rev. A 58(5), 3891 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Website: http://smsc.cnes.fr/PHARAO/

  36. Laurent, P., et al.: Design of the cold atom PHARAO space clock and initial test results. Appl. Phys. B 84, 683 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Herr, W.: Eine kompakte Quelle quantenentarteter Gase hohen Flusses für die Atominterferometrie unter Schwerelosigkeit, PhD-thesis at Leibniz Universität Hannover (2013)

  38. Clément, J.-F. et al.: All-optical runaway evaporation to bose-einstein condensation. Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 061406 (R) (2009)

  39. Altin, P.A., et al.: 85Rb tunable-interaction Bose–einstein condensate machine. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 063103 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Lévèque, T., et al.: Enhancing the area of a Raman atom interferometer using a versatile double-diffraction technique. Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 080405 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Website: www.zygo.com – optical mirrors

  42. Website: www.cedrat-technologies.com – DTT35XS: A new compact piezo tilt mechanism with 3° of freedom., R. Le Letty et al.: Miniature piezo mechanisms for optical and space applications, ACTUATOR 2004, 9th International Conference on New Actuators, 14 – 16 June 2004, Bremen, Germany

  43. Rocco, E. et al.: Atom shot noise detection for atom interferometry, in preparation

  44. Milke, A., et al.: Atom interferometry in space: thermal management and magnetic shielding. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 083105 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Mateos, I., et al.: Temperature coefficient improvement for low noise magnetic measurements in LISA. J. Phys. Conf. Ser 363, 012051 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Mateos, I., et al.: Magnetic back action effect of magnetic sensors for eLISA/NGO. ASP Conf Ser. 467, 341 (2013)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. Website: www.ansys.com – Official website of ANSYS, Inc.

  48. Website: www.techapps.com – Producer of space qualified carbon fiber heat straps. Technol Appl. Inc.

  49. Lévèque, T., et al.: A laser setup for rubidium cooling dedicated to space applications. Appl. Phys. B 116, 997 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Luvsandamdin, E., et al.: Development of narrow linewidth, micro-integrated extended cavity diode lasers for quantum optics experiments in space. Appl. Phys. B. 111, 255–260 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Luvsandamdin, E., et al.: Micro-integrated extended cavity diode lasers for precision potassium spectroscopy in space. Opt. Express 22(7), 7790–7798 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Kuhn, C. C. N. et al.: A Bose-condensed, simultaneous dual species Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer, arXiv:1401.5827 (2014)

  53. Duncker, H., et al.: Ultrastable, Zerodur based optical benches for quantum gas experiments. Appl. Opt. 53(20), 4468–4474 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Website: http://www.rtems.org

  55. See website: http://vijaysamyal.tripod.com/YOURDAN_SAD.pdf

  56. Nyman, R.A., et al.: I.C.E.: a transportable atomic inertial sensor for test in microgravity. Appl. Phys. B 84, 673 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the German space agency Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology under grant numbers 50 OY 1302, 50 OY 1303, and 50 OY 1304, the German Research Foundation (DFG) by funding the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research (QUEST)”, the French Space Agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, and the European Space Agency (ESA). Lluis Gesa, Ignacio Mateos and Carlos F. Sopuerta acknowledge support from Grants AYA-2010-15709 (MICINN), 2009-SGR-935 (AGAUR) and ESP2013-47637-P (MINECO). Kai Bongs acknowledges support from UKSA for the UK contribution. Baptiste Battelier, Andrea Bertoldi and Philippe Bouyer thank the “Agence Nationale pour la Recherche” for support within the MINIATOM project (ANR-09-BLAN-0026). Wolf von Klitzing acknowledges support from the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) programme of the EU (MatterWave, FP7-ICT-601180).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Patrick Windpassinger

    Present address: Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55099, Mainz, Germany

  2. Chris Chaloner

    Present address: Trym Systems Ltd, 1 College Park Drive Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, BS10 7AN, UK

  3. Markus Krutzik

    Present address: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Space Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Robert-Hooke-Str. 7, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Thilo Schuldt & Claus Braxmaier

  2. Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167, Hannover, Germany

    Christian Schubert, Naceur Gaaloul, Jonas Hartwig, Holger Ahlers, Waldemar Herr, Katerine Posso-Trujillo, Jan Rudolph, Stephan Seidel, Thijs Wendrich, Wolfgang Ertmer & Ernst Rasel

  3. Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Markus Krutzik, Matthias Hauth & Achim Peters

  4. Institut de Ciències de l’Espai (CSIC-IEEC), Campus UAB, Facultat de Ciències, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    Lluis Gesa Bote, Ignacio Mateos & Carlos F. Sopuerta

  5. Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation (ZARM), Universität Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Sven Herrmann, André Kubelka-Lange, Alexander Milke, Benny Rievers, Norman Gürlebeck & Claus Braxmaier

  6. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B152TT, UK

    Emanuele Rocco, Andrew Hinton & Kai Bongs

  7. Institut für Optische Systeme, University of Applied Sciences Konstanz (HTWG), Brauneggerstr. 55, 78462, Konstanz, Germany

    Markus Oswald & Matthias Franz

  8. Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Ahmad Bawamia & Andreas Wicht

  9. Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences-LP2N Université Bordeaux-IOGS-CNRS: UMR 5298, Talence, France

    Baptiste Battelier, Andrea Bertoldi & Philippe Bouyer

  10. LNE-SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS and UPMC, 61 avenue de l’observatoire, 75014, Paris, France

    Arnaud Landragin

  11. CNES - Centre National d’Études Spatiales, 18 Avenue Édouard Belin, 31400, Toulouse, France

    Didier Massonnet & Thomas Lévèque

  12. Institut für Laserphysik, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany

    Andre Wenzlawski, Ortwin Hellmig, Patrick Windpassinger & Klaus Sengstock

  13. Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Vassilika Vouton, GR-71110, Heraklion, Greece

    Wolf von Klitzing

  14. SEA House, Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ, UK

    Chris Chaloner, David Summers & Philip Ireland

  15. Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS, Università di Firenze - INFN, Sezione di Firenze - via G. Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy

    Fiodor Sorrentino & Guglielmo M. Tino

  16. Astrium Ltd, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SGI 2AS, UK

    Michael Williams & Christian Trenkel

  17. Astrium GmbH - Satellites, Claude-Dornier-Str., 88090, Immenstaad, Germany

    Domenico Gerardi, Michael Chwalla, Johannes Burkhardt & Ulrich Johann

  18. ESA - European Space Agency, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG, Noordwijk, ZH, Netherlands

    Astrid Heske, Eric Wille, Martin Gehler & Luigi Cacciapuoti

Authors
  1. Thilo Schuldt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Christian Schubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Markus Krutzik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lluis Gesa Bote
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Naceur Gaaloul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jonas Hartwig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Holger Ahlers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Waldemar Herr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Katerine Posso-Trujillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Jan Rudolph
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Stephan Seidel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Thijs Wendrich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Wolfgang Ertmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Sven Herrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. André Kubelka-Lange
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Alexander Milke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Benny Rievers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Emanuele Rocco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Andrew Hinton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  20. Kai Bongs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  21. Markus Oswald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  22. Matthias Franz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  23. Matthias Hauth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  24. Achim Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  25. Ahmad Bawamia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  26. Andreas Wicht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  27. Baptiste Battelier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  28. Andrea Bertoldi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  29. Philippe Bouyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  30. Arnaud Landragin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  31. Didier Massonnet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  32. Thomas Lévèque
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  33. Andre Wenzlawski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  34. Ortwin Hellmig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  35. Patrick Windpassinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  36. Klaus Sengstock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  37. Wolf von Klitzing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  38. Chris Chaloner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  39. David Summers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  40. Philip Ireland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  41. Ignacio Mateos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  42. Carlos F. Sopuerta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  43. Fiodor Sorrentino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  44. Guglielmo M. Tino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  45. Michael Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  46. Christian Trenkel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  47. Domenico Gerardi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  48. Michael Chwalla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  49. Johannes Burkhardt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  50. Ulrich Johann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  51. Astrid Heske
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  52. Eric Wille
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  53. Martin Gehler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  54. Luigi Cacciapuoti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  55. Norman Gürlebeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  56. Claus Braxmaier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  57. Ernst Rasel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thilo Schuldt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schuldt, T., Schubert, C., Krutzik, M. et al. Design of a dual species atom interferometer for space. Exp Astron 39, 167–206 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-014-9433-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-014-9433-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation