Quantum test of the equivalence principle for atoms in coherent superposition of internal energy states

Autor(en)

G. Rosi, G. D'Amico, Luigi Cacciapuoti, Francesca Sorrentino, M. Prevedelli, M. Zych, C. Brukner, G. M. Tino

Abstrakt

The Einstein equivalence principle (EEP) has a central role in the understanding of gravity and space-time. In its weak form, or weak equivalence principle (WEP), it directly implies equivalence between inertial and gravitational mass. Verifying this principle in a regime where the relevant properties of the test body must be described by quantum theory has profound implications. Here we report on a novel WEP test for atoms: a Bragg atom interferometer in a gravity gradiometer configuration compares the free fall of rubidium atoms prepared in two hyperfine states and in their coherent superposition. The use of the superposition state allows testing genuine quantum aspects of EEP with no classical analogue, which have remained completely unexplored so far. In addition, we measure the Eotvos ratio of atoms in two hyperfine levels with relative uncertainty in the low 10(-9), improving previous results by almost two orders of magnitude.

Organisation(en)

Quantenoptik, Quantennanophysik und Quanteninformation

Externe Organisation(en)

Università degli Studi di Firenze, European Space Agency (ESA), Università degli Studi di Genova, Università di Bologna, University of Queensland, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW)

Journal

Nature Communications

Band

8

Anzahl der Seiten

6

ISSN

2041-1723

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15529

Publikationsdatum

06-2017

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103025 Quantenmechanik, 103005 Atomphysik, 103028 Relativitätstheorie

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Allgemeine Physik und Astronomie, Allgemeine Chemie, Allgemeine Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/1b08eef0-a39f-4d54-bba4-207efe1e648a