Quantum state engineering of quantum gases in orbit

Ensembles of cold atoms behave as matter-waves and are routinely used for quantum sensing experiments. Space provides an environment where atoms can float for extended times, but the free expansion and the inherent atomic density drop make the signal detection difficult. By analogy with light, it is possible to collimate the clouds with atomic lenses, using the delta-kick collimation technique. In this contribution, we present a protocol for controlling the expansion of condensed Rb clouds applied to experiments in the NASA Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) on board of the International Space Station that led to expansion energies at the tens of picokelvin level. This is made possible thanks to an accurate quantum state preparation of the atomic source that makes it compatible with the most stringent requirements of precision atom interferometry experiments.