Effective Inertial Frame in an Atom Interferometric Test of the Equivalence Principle

Area of Science:

• Fundamental Physics
• Quantum Metrology
• Gravitational Physics

Background:

• Equivalence principle tests are vital for understanding gravity.
• Gravity gradients introduce systematic errors in atom interferometry experiments.
• Previous dual-species atom interferometers were sensitive to initial kinematic differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method reducing sensitivity to initial kinematics in dual-species atom interferometry.
• To suppress gravity-gradient-induced systematic errors.
• To improve the precision of equivalence principle tests.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a frequency shift of the mirror pulse in a dual-species atom interferometer.
• Created an effective inertial frame for both atomic species.
• Precisely measured initial kinematic differences between test masses.

Main Results:

• Suppressed gravity-gradient-induced phase dependence by 2 orders of magnitude.
• Achieved a relative precision of Δg/g≈6×10^{-11} per shot.
• Reduced gravity gradient systematic errors to 1 part in 10^{13}.

Conclusions:

• The developed method significantly enhances atom interferometry precision.
• This technique paves the way for atomic tests of the equivalence principle at unprecedented accuracy.
• Results approach the precision of state-of-the-art classical tests of the equivalence principle.