Atomic source selection in space-borne gravitational wave detection

authored by: Sina Leon Loriani Fard, Dennis Schlippert, Christian Schubert, Sven Abend, Holger Ahlers, Wolfgang Ertmer, Jan Rudolph, Jason M. Hogan, Mark A. Kasevich, Ernst Maria Rasel, Naceur Gaaloul
Abstract: Recent proposals for space-borne gravitational wave detectors based on atom interferometry rely on extremely narrow single-photon transition lines as featured by alkaline-earth metals or atomic species with similar electronic configuration. Despite their similarity, these species differ in key parameters such as abundance of isotopes, atomic flux, density and temperature regimes, achievable expansion rates, density limitations set by interactions, as well as technological and operational requirements. In this study, we compare viable candidates for gravitational wave detection with atom interferometry, contrast the most promising atomic species, identify the relevant technological milestones and investigate potential source concepts towards a future gravitational wave detector in space.
Organisation(s): QuantumFrontiers
QUEST-Leibniz Research School
Institute of Quantum Optics
Quantum Atom Optics
CRC 1227 Designed Quantum States of Matter (DQ-mat)
External Organisation(s): Stanford University
Type: Article
Journal: New Journal of Physics
Volume: 21
No. of pages: 14
ISSN: 1367-2630
Publication date: 21.06.2019
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy(all)
Electronic version(s): https://arxiv.org/abs/1812.11348 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ab22d0 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{ee49608e7998434eb2e2615b5d7b473f,
title = "Atomic source selection in space-borne gravitational wave detection",
abstract = "Recent proposals for space-borne gravitational wave detectors based on atom interferometry rely on extremely narrow single-photon transition lines as featured by alkaline-earth metals or atomic species with similar electronic configuration. Despite their similarity, these species differ in key parameters such as abundance of isotopes, atomic flux, density and temperature regimes, achievable expansion rates, density limitations set by interactions, as well as technological and operational requirements. In this study, we compare viable candidates for gravitational wave detection with atom interferometry, contrast the most promising atomic species, identify the relevant technological milestones and investigate potential source concepts towards a future gravitational wave detector in space.",
keywords = "physics.atom-ph, astro-ph.IM, quant-ph, space physics, gravitational wave detection, quantum gases, inertial sensors, general relativity, atom interferometry",
author = "{Loriani Fard}, {Sina Leon} and Dennis Schlippert and Christian Schubert and Sven Abend and Holger Ahlers and Wolfgang Ertmer and Jan Rudolph and Hogan, {Jason M.} and Kasevich, {Mark A.} and Rasel, {Ernst Maria} and Naceur Gaaloul",
note = "Funding information: The authors acknowledge financial support from DFG through CRC 1227 (DQ-mat), project B07. The presented work is furthermore supported by CRC 1128 (geo-Q), the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under Grants No. 50WM1641, 50WM1952, 50WP1700 and 50WM1435. Furthermore, support of the 'Nieders{\"a}chsisches Vorab' through the 'Quantum- and Nano-Metrology' (QUANOMET) initiative within the project QT3 is acknowledged as well as through 'F{\"o}rderung von Wisenschaft und Technik in Forschung und Lehre' for the initial funding of research in the new DLR institute. Moreover, networking support by the COST action CA16221 'Atom Quantum Technologies' and the Q-SENSE project funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) under Grant Agreement Number 691156 is acknowledged. SL acknowledges mobility support provided by the IP@Leibniz program of the LU Hanover. DS gratefully acknowledges funding by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the funding program Photonics Research Germany under contract number 13N14875. Robin Corgier, David Gu{\'e}ry-Odelin, Nandan Jha, Jan-Niclas Siem{\ss} and Klaus Zipfel are gratefully acknowledged for their valuable discussions and comments. The publication of this article was funded by the Open Access Fund of the Leibniz Universit{\"a}t Hannover.",
year = "2019",
month = jun,
day = "21",
doi = "10.1088/1367-2630/ab22d0",
language = "English",
volume = "21",
journal = "New Journal of Physics",
issn = "1367-2630",
publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",
number = "6",
}