Platform and environment requirements of a satellite quantum test of the weak equivalence principle at the 10-17 level

authored by: Christian Struckmann, Robin Corgier, Sina Loriani, Gina Kleinsteinberg, Nina Gox, Enno Giese, Gilles Métris, Naceur Gaaloul, Peter Wolf
Abstract: The space-time explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test (STE-QUEST) recently proposed, aims at performing a precision test of the weak equivalence principle (WEP), a fundamental cornerstone of general relativity. Taking advantage of the ideal operation conditions for high-precision quantum sensing on board of a satellite, it aims to detect possible violations of WEP down to the 10-17 level. This level of performance leads to stringent environmental requirements on the control of the spacecraft. We assume an operation of a dual-species atom interferometer of rubidium and potassium isotopes in a double-diffraction configuration and derive the constraints to achieve an Eötvös parameter η=10-17 in statistical and systematic uncertainties. We show that technical heritage of previous satellite missions, such as MICROSCOPE, satisfies the platform requirements to achieve the proposed objectives underlying the technical readiness of the STE-QUEST mission proposal.
Organisation(s): Institute of Quantum Optics
QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s): Observatoire de Paris (OBSPARIS)
German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ)
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Observatoire Côte d'Azur
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review D
Volume: 109
No. of pages: 19
ISSN: 2470-0010
Publication date: 05.03.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.109.064010 (Access: Closed)

BibTeX

@article{d0fc8e06a0134e90bee0dc9ea669696e,
title = "Platform and environment requirements of a satellite quantum test of the weak equivalence principle at the 10-17 level",
abstract = "The space-time explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test (STE-QUEST) recently proposed, aims at performing a precision test of the weak equivalence principle (WEP), a fundamental cornerstone of general relativity. Taking advantage of the ideal operation conditions for high-precision quantum sensing on board of a satellite, it aims to detect possible violations of WEP down to the 10-17 level. This level of performance leads to stringent environmental requirements on the control of the spacecraft. We assume an operation of a dual-species atom interferometer of rubidium and potassium isotopes in a double-diffraction configuration and derive the constraints to achieve an E{\"o}tv{\"o}s parameter η=10-17 in statistical and systematic uncertainties. We show that technical heritage of previous satellite missions, such as MICROSCOPE, satisfies the platform requirements to achieve the proposed objectives underlying the technical readiness of the STE-QUEST mission proposal.",
author = "Christian Struckmann and Robin Corgier and Sina Loriani and Gina Kleinsteinberg and Nina Gox and Enno Giese and Gilles M{\'e}tris and Naceur Gaaloul and Peter Wolf",
note = "Funding Information: The authors thank all contributors to STE-QUEST proposals (see Ref. for a full list). R. C. thanks the Paris Observatory Scientific Council and was funded by “PSL fellowship at Paris Observatory” program. This work was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) under Germany{\textquoteright}s Excellence Strategy (EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers Grant No. 390837967) and through Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1227 (DQ-mat) within Project No. A05, and the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsche Raumfahrtagentur im Deutschen Zentrum f{\"u}r Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) with funds provided by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action due to an enactment of the German Bundestag under Grants No. 50WM2250A and No. 50WM2250E (QUANTUS+), No. 50WP1700 (BECCAL), No. 50WM2245A (CAL-II), No. 50WM2263A (CARIOQA-GE), No. 50WM2253A (AI-Quadrat), No. 50RK1957 (QGYRO), No. 50WM2177 (INTENTAS), as well as No. 50NA2106 (QGYRO+). ",
year = "2024",
month = mar,
day = "5",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevD.109.064010",
language = "English",
volume = "109",
journal = "Physical Review D",
issn = "2470-0010",
publisher = "American Institute of Physics",
number = "6",
}