https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/s10053-021-00069-9
Regular Article - Cold Matter and Quantum Gases
Inertial sensing with quantum gases: a comparative performance study of condensed versus thermal sources for atom interferometry
1
Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167, Hannover, Germany
2
Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 2, 30167, Hannover, Germany
3
Institut für Satellitengeodäsie und Inertialsensorik, c/o Leibniz Universität Hannover, DLR-SI, Callinstraße 36, 30167, Hannover, Germany
Received:
15
September
2020
Accepted:
2
February
2021
Published online:
22
March
2021
Quantum sensors based on light pulse atom interferometers allow for measurements of inertial and electromagnetic forces such as the accurate determination of fundamental constants as the fine structure constant or testing foundational laws of modern physics as the equivalence principle. These schemes unfold their full performance when large interrogation times and/or large momentum transfer can be implemented. In this article, we demonstrate how interferometry can benefit from the use of Bose–Einstein condensed sources when the state of the art is challenged. We contrast systematic and statistical effects induced by Bose–Einstein condensed sources with thermal sources in three exemplary science cases of Earth- and space-based sensors.
© The Author(s) 2021. corrected publication 2021
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