INTENTAS -- An entanglement-enhanced atomic sensor for microgravity

Atom interferometers serve as high-precision sensors for quantities like acceleration, rotation, or magnetic fields. The sensitivity of atom interferometers is greatly enhanced by long interrogation times, as they are available in spaceborne applications. Second-long interrogation times favor the employment of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) with their well-controlled spatial mode and their slow expansion rates. The sensitivity can be increased even further by employing squeezed atomic ensembles that enable measurements beyond the standard quantum limit. The INTENTAS project develops a source of entangled atoms for operation under microgravity. For a first demonstration, microgravity is provided by the Einstein Elevator in Hannover, Germany, which offers up to 4s of free fall. A key feature of the experiment is the fast all-optical BEC generation which is performed in a crossed-beam optical dipole trap. In this contribution, we will give an overview of the setup, the results of the ground testing and present first flight campaigns.