Degenerate Quantum Gases in Microgravity

• Published in: Microgravity science and technology 2011-06, Vol.23 (3), p.287-292
• Main Authors: Rudolph, Jan, Gaaloul, Naceur, Singh, Yeshpal, Ahlers, Holger, Herr, Waldemar, Schulze, Torben A., Seidel, Stephan Tobias, Rode, Christina, Schkolnik, Vladimir, Ertmer, Wolfgang, Rasel, Ernst Maria, Müntinga, Hauke, Könemann, Thorben, Resch, Andreas, Herrmann, Sven, Lämmerzahl, Claus, Zoest, Tim van, Dittus, Hansjörg, Vogel, Anika, Wenzlawski, André, Sengstock, Klaus, Meyer, Nadine, Bongs, Kai, Krutzik, Markus, Lewoczko-Adamczyk, Wojciech, Schiemangk, Max, Peters, Achim, Eckart, Michael, Kajari, Endre, Arnold, Stefan, Nandi, Gerrit, Schleich, Wolfgang P., Walser, Reinhold, Steinmetz, Tilo, Hänsch, Theodor W., Reichel, Jakob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Bose-Einstein condensates; Classical and Continuum Physics; Clouds; Coherence; Condensates; Drop towers; Earth; Engineering; Equivalence principle; Interferometers; Interferometry; Microgravity; Original Article; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
• ISSN: 0938-0108; 1875-0494
• DOI: 10.1007/s12217-010-9247-0

Clouds of ultra-cold atoms and especially Bose–Einstein condensates (BEC) provide a source for coherent matter-waves in numerous earth bound experiments. Analogous to optical interferometry, matter-wave interferometers can be used for precision measurements allowing for a sensitivity orders of magnitude above their optical counterparts. However, in some respects the presence of gravitational forces in the lab limits experimental possibilities. In this article, we report about a compact and robust experiment generating Bose–Einstein condensates in the drop tower facility in Bremen, Germany. We also present the progress of building the succeeding experiment in which a two species atom interferometer will be implemented to test the weak equivalence principle with quantum matter.