Measurement of the Gravity-Field Curvature by Atom Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper reports the first direct measurement of gravity-field curvature using three atom interferometers, providing a new method for geodesy and gravitational constant determination.

Contribution

It introduces a novel atom interferometry scheme to measure gravity-field curvature directly, advancing precision in gravitational studies.

Findings

Successful measurement of gravity-field curvature with atom interferometers

Demonstration of simultaneous probing at three positions

Potential application in determining the Newtonian constant of gravity

Abstract

We present the first direct measurement of the gravity-field curvature based on three conjugated atom interferometers. Three atomic clouds launched in the vertical direction are simultaneously interrogated by the same atom interferometry sequence and used to probe the gravity field at three equally spaced positions. The vertical component of the gravity-field curvature generated by nearby source masses is measured from the difference between adjacent gravity gradient values. Curvature measurements are of interest in geodesy studies and for the validation of gravitational models of the surrounding environment. The possibility of using such a scheme for a new determination of the Newtonian constant of gravity is also discussed.