Antimatter interferometry for gravity measurements

TL;DR

This paper proposes a versatile antimatter interferometer using light-pulse techniques, enabling precise gravity measurements of various particles including antihydrogen, with potential to test fundamental physics principles.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interferometer design that works with multiple particle species and antiparticles, enhancing capabilities for fundamental physics experiments.

Findings

Design allows for antimatter and particle interferometry without resonant lasers.

Expected initial accuracy better than 1% for antihydrogen free-fall acceleration.

Potential to improve measurement precision to part-per-million levels.

Abstract

We describe a light-pulse atom interferometer that is suitable for any species of atom and even for electrons and protons as well as their antiparticles, in particular for testing the Einstein equivalence principle with antihydrogen. The design obviates the need for resonant lasers through far-off resonant Bragg beam splitters and makes efficient use of scarce atoms by magnetic confinement and atom recycling. We expect to reach an initial accuracy of better than 1% for the acceleration of free fall of antihydrogen, which can be improved to the part-per million level.