Methods for atom interferometry with dual-species BEC in space

Atom interferometry is a promising tool for precise measurements, e.g. for measurements of the gravitational and fine structure constant or quantum tests of the weak equivalence principle. As the sensitivity scales with the squared interrogation time, conducting these experiments in microgravity is of great interest. Same holds for using Bose-Einstein-Condensates (BEC) because of the lower expansion velocity. The sounding rocket mission MAIUS-1 demonstrated the first creation of a BEC and matter wave interferences in space [1,2]. With the follow-up missions MAIUS-2 and -3, we extend the apparatus by another species to perform atom interferometry with Rb-87 and K-41 paving the way for implementing and testing the methods of dual-species interferometers on board of space stations or satellites.

In this contribution, the manipulation of BECs using Raman double-diffraction processes and their application to form (asymmetric) Mach-Zehnder-type interferometers, e.g. for inertial sensing, are presented for a compact, robust, and autonomously operating setup that generates Rb-87 and K-41 BECs with a high repetition rate.

[1] D. Becker, et al., Nature 562, 391-395 (2018).

[2] M.D. Lachmann, H. Ahlers, et al., Ultracold atom interferometry in space. Nat Commun 12, 1317 (2021).