Quantum Optics and Sensing in Microgravity – QuantumFrontiers

Experiments and scientific exchange in quantum optics and sensing within ground-based and sub-orbital microgravity platforms.

Contributions to QuantumFrontiers

Development of scientific projects in Droptowers (Einstein-Elevator, DropTower Bremen, GraviTower Pro) and sounding rockets
Development of future geodesy satellite missions, e.g. CARIOQA, by testing atom interferometry in microgravity
Realization of atom interferometry in the Einstein-Elevator for research on fundamental physics and metrology beyond the standard quantum limit
A collaborative platform for experts on µg-facilities, which improves workflows, experiment quality and project efficiency on current facilities
Method and technology transfer on quantum experiments in microgravity via e.g. workshops

Collaborative Innovation

Search for dark energy in the Einstein-Elevator (Rasel, Piest, LUH)
Interferometry with entangled atoms (Klempt, Kruse, DLR-SI)
Extending atom interferometry to unprecedented free evolution times (Rasel, Abend, LUH)
Exploring and improving limitations of µg-platforms with respect to vibrations, rotations and magnetic fields beyond current capabilities (Lotz, Herrmann, Becker, LUH, ZARM)
Use optical/matterwave high-precision inertial sensors in combination with active controlled stabilization to define the state of the art in µg research (Rasel, Schlippert, Lotz, LUH)
Planning, realizing and testing pathfinders for future space missions on microgravity platforms (Rasel, Gaaloul, Lotz LUH)

Cooperations

Topical Group

Spin-Squeezing and Non-Classical States

INTerferometry with ENTangled Atoms in Space (INTENTAS)

Dark Energy Search by Interferometry in the Einstein - Elevator (DESIRE)

QUANTUS IV - MAIUS

ONERA

Scientific Output

Publications

Heine H, Arnold AS, Le Gonidec M, Griffin PF, Riis E, Herr W et al. A compact high-flux grating chip cold atom source. New Journal of Physics. 2025 Mär 14;27(3):033019. doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/adbc14

Herbst A, Estrampes T, Albers H, Vollenkemper V, Stolzenberg K, Bode S et al. High-flux source system for matter-wave interferometry exploiting tunable interactions. Physical Review Research. 2024 Feb 2;6(1):013139. doi: 10.1103/physrevresearch.6.013139

Herbst A, Estrampes T, Albers H, Corgier R, Stolzenberg K, Bode S et al. Matter-wave collimation to picokelvin energies with scattering length and potential shape control. Communications Physics. 2024 Apr 25;7(1):132. doi: 10.1038/s42005-024-01621-w

Elsen M, Piest B, Adam F, Anton O, Arciszewski P, Bartosch W et al. A Dual-Species Atom Interferometer Payload for Operation on Sounding Rockets. Microgravity Science and Technology. 2023 Sep 7;35(5):48. doi: 10.1007/s12217-023-10068-7

Lotz C, Piest B, Rasel E, Overmeyer L. The Einstein Elevator: Space Experiments at the new Hannover Center for Microgravity Research. Europhysics News. 2023;54(2):9-11. Epub 2023 Apr 28. doi: 10.1051/epn/2023201

Pichery A, Meister M, Piest B, Böhm J, Rasel EM, Charron E et al. Efficient numerical description of the dynamics of interacting multispecies quantum gases. AVS Quantum Science. 2023 Dez;5(4):044401. Epub 2023 Nov 7. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2305.13433, 10.1116/5.0163850

Raudonis M, Roura A, Meister M, Lotz C, Overmeyer L, Herrmann S et al. Microgravity facilities for cold atom experiments. Quantum Science and Technology. 2023 Aug 10;8(4):044001. doi: 10.1088/2058-9565/ace1a3

Piest B, Vollenkemper V, Böhm J, Herbst A, Rasel EM. Red- and blue-detuned magneto-optical trapping with liquid crystal variable retarders. Review of scientific instruments. 2022 Feb 2;93(2):023202. doi: 10.1063/5.0071619

Lachmann MD, Ahlers H, Becker D, Dinkelaker AN, Grosse J, Hellmig O et al. Ultracold atom interferometry in space. Nature Communications. 2021 Dez;12(1):1317. Epub 2021 Feb 26. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21628-z

TG Members

Involved Members and their Relevant Expertise

Members	Institution	Relevant Expertise
Baptist Piest, Leader	IQO	Atom interferometry in microgravity, quantum gases and atomic mixtures; search for dark energy
Christoph Lotz, Leader	ITA	Microgravity experiments; Development of µg-facilities using sensor fusion concepts
Ernst M. Rasel	IQO	Quantum Gravimeters; Atom-Chip Based Gravimeters and Inertial Sensors; Atom interferometry in microgravity, quantum gases and atomic mixtures; search for dark energy
Ludger Overmeyer	ITA	Microgravity experiments
Naceur Gaaloul	IQO	Theory of many-body physics and atom interferometry
Jonas Böhm	IQO	Atom interferometry in microgravity, atomic mixtures
Sven Herrmann	ZARM	Microgravity experiments
Dennis Schlippert	IQO	Very-long baseline atom interferometry
Matthias Gersemann	IQO	Quantum gravimetry
Sven Abend	IQO	Quantum gravimetry
Carsten Klempt	IQO/DLR-SI	Quantum Atom Optics; Entanglement and sub-shot noise atom interferometry
Jens Kruse	DLR-SI	Quantum and Nano-Engineering of Light and Matter; Entanglement and sub-shot noise atom interferometry
Christian Schubert	DLR-SI	Atom-Chip Based Gravimeters and Inertial Sensors
Waldemar Herr	DLR-SI	Atom-Chip Based Gravimeters and Inertial Sensors
Elena Jordan	PTB
Tanja Mehlstäubler	PTB	Precision spectroscopy in In+ and Yb+ ions; Test of LLI
Christian Vogt	ZARM	Microgravity experiments
Stephan Hannig	PTB
Klemens Hammerer	ITP	Theory of quantum optics, coupling to general relativity
Marian Woltmann	ZARM
Merle Cornelius	ZARM
Laura Pätzold	ZARM
Mouine Abidi	IQO	Inertial Sensors
Ekim Hanimeli	ZARM
Kai Frye	IQO	Microgravity experiments
Claus Lämmerzahl	ZARM
Alexander Wanner	HITec	Microgravity experiments
Jörg Neumann	LZH	Laser development and characterization
Peter Weßels	LZH	Laser development and characterization
Dorthe Leopoldt	IQO	Atom interferometry in microgravity
Sukhjovan Gill	IQO
Rui Li	IQO	Atom interferometry simulations
Stefan Seckmeyer	IQO	Atom interferometry simulations, optical simulations
Gabriel Müller	IQO	Atom chip design
Priyanka Guggilam	IQO	Microgravity experiments
Charles Garcion	IQO	Quantum sensing Casimir Polder Forces

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