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)
Scientific Output
-
Publications
Frye-Arndt K, Wacker A, Brunssen P, Dralle T, Ahlers H, Herr W et al. Focus and depth of field tunable detection system for compact quantum sensors. Optics express. 2026 Jan 26;34(3):3691-3701. doi: 10.1364/oe.582238Heine 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 Mar 14;27(3):033019. doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/adbc14Herbst 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.6.013139Herbst 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-wElsen 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 Sept 7;35(5):48. doi: 10.1007/s12217-023-10068-7Lotz 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/2023201Pichery 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 Dec;5(4):044401. Epub 2023 Nov 7. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2305.13433, 10.1116/5.0163850Raudonis 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/ace1a3Piest 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: 10.1063/5.0071619Lachmann MD, Ahlers H, Becker D, Dinkelaker AN, Grosse J, Hellmig O et al. Ultracold atom interferometry in space. Nature Communications. 2021 Dec;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 Christoph Lotz, Leader ITA Microgravity experiments; Development of µg-facilities using sensor fusion concepts Jonas Böhm, Leader IQO Atom interferometry in microgravity, atomic mixtures 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 Sven Herrmann ZARM Microgravity experiments Dennis Schlippert IQO Very-long baseline atom interferometry Sven Abend IQO Quantum gravimetry Carsten Klempt IQO/DLR-SI Quantum Atom Optics; Entanglement and sub-shot noise atom interferometry Waldemar Herr DLR-SI Atom-Chip Based Gravimeters and Inertial Sensors Merle Cornelius 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 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 MagdalenaMisslisch IQO Quantum sensing Sebastian Lazar HITec/ITA Microgravity experiments Marvin Raupert ITA Sensor development Alexander Heidt ITA Testing microgravity environments
