A Dual-Species Atom Interferometer Payload for Operation on Sounding Rockets

• Published in: Microgravity science and technology 2023-09, Vol.35 (5), p.48, Article 48
• Main Authors: Elsen, Michael, Piest, Baptist, Adam, Fabian, Anton, Oliver, Arciszewski, Paweł, Bartosch, Wolfgang, Becker, Dennis, Bleeke, Kai, Böhm, Jonas, Boles, Sören, Döringshoff, Klaus, Guggilam, Priyanka, Hellmig, Ortwin, Imwalle, Isabell, Kanthak, Simon, Kürbis, Christian, Koch, Matthias, Lachmann, Maike Diana, Mihm, Moritz, Müntinga, Hauke, Nepal, Ayush Mani, Oberschulte, Tim, Ohr, Peter, Papakonstantinou, Alexandros, Prat, Arnau, Reichelt, Christian, Sommer, Jan, Spindeldreier, Christian, Warner, Marvin, Wendrich, Thijs, Wenzlawski, André, Blume, Holger, Braxmaier, Claus, Lüdtke, Daniel, Peters, Achim, Rasel, Ernst Maria, Sengstock, Klaus, Wicht, Andreas, Windpassinger, Patrick, Grosse, Jens
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Atom interferometry; Bose-Einstein condensates; Classical and Continuum Physics; Control equipment; Control systems; Engineering; Frequency ranges; Ground support equipment; Ground support systems; Interferometry; Matter waves; Modular design; Sounding rockets; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Static loads; Thermal control systems; Ultracold atoms; Vibratory loads
• ISSN: 1875-0494; 0938-0108; 1875-0494
• DOI: 10.1007/s12217-023-10068-7

We report on the design and the construction of a sounding rocket payload capable of performing atom interferometry with Bose-Einstein condensates of 41 K and 87 Rb. The apparatus is designed to be launched in two consecutive missions with a VSB-30 sounding rocket and is qualified to withstand the expected vibrational loads of 1.8 g root-mean-square in a frequency range between 20–2000 Hz and the expected static loads during ascent and re-entry of 25 g. We present a modular design of the scientific payload comprising a physics package, a laser system, an electronics system and a battery module. A dedicated on-board software provides a largely automated process of predefined experiments. To operate the payload safely in laboratory and flight mode, a thermal control system and ground support equipment has been implemented and will be presented. The payload presented here represents a cornerstone for future applications of matter wave interferometry with ultracold atoms on satellites.