APS Logo

Atom-Interferometric Test of the Equivalence Principle at the 10<sup>-12</sup> Level

ORAL

Abstract

We use a dual-species atom interferometer with 2 s of free-fall time to measure the relative acceleration between 85Rb and 87Rb wave packets in the Earth's gravitational field.  Systematic errors arising from kinematic differences between the isotopes are suppressed by calibrating the angles and frequencies of the interferometry beams. We find an Eötvös parameter of η = [1.6 +/- 1.8 (stat) +/- 3.4 (syst)] x 10-12, consistent with zero violation of the equivalence principle. With a resolution of up to 1.4 x 10-11 g per shot, we demonstrate a sensitivity to η of 5.4 x 10-11 / (Hz)1/2.   

Publication: Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 191101 (2020)

Presenters

  • Chris Overstreet

    Stanford University

Authors

  • Chris Overstreet

    Stanford University

  • Peter Asenbaum

    Stanford University

  • Minjeong Kim

    Stanford University

  • Joseph Curti

    Stanford University

  • Mark Kasevich

    Stanford University