Titel
Quantum test of the equivalence principle for atoms in coherent superposition of internal energy states
Autor*in
G. Rosi
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS, Università di Firenze—INFN Sezione di Firenze
G. D’Amico
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and LENS, Università di Firenze—INFN Sezione di Firenze
L. Cacciapuoti
European Space Agency
... show all
Abstract
The Einstein equivalence principle (EEP) has a central role in the understanding of gravity and space–time. In its weak form, or weak equivalence principle (WEP), it directly implies equivalence between inertial and gravitational mass. Verifying this principle in a regime where the relevant properties of the test body must be described by quantum theory has profound implications. Here we report on a novel WEP test for atoms: a Bragg atom interferometer in a gravity gradiometer configuration compares the free fall of rubidium atoms prepared in two hyperfine states and in their coherent superposition. The use of the superposition state allows testing genuine quantum aspects of EEP with no classical analogue, which have remained completely unexplored so far. In addition, we measure the Eötvös ratio of atoms in two hyperfine levels with relative uncertainty in the low 10−9, improving previous results by almost two orders of magnitude.
Stichwort
Matter waves and particle beamsTheoretical physicsUltracold gases
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:907591
Erschienen in
Titel
Nature Communications
Band
8
Seitenanfang
15529
Publication
Springer Nature
Fördergeber
Austrian Science Fund (FWF) — FoQuS
Austrian Science Fund (FWF) — CoQuS
Austrian Science Fund (FWF) — 24621
Erscheinungsdatum
2017
Zugänglichkeit
Rechte
Rechteangabe
© The Author(s) 2017
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