Quantum test of the equivalence principle for atoms in superpositions of internal energy eigenstates

TL;DR

This paper presents a quantum test of the Weak Equivalence Principle using atom interferometry, comparing free fall of rubidium atoms in different quantum states, including superpositions, with high precision.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum WEP test employing superposition states in atom interferometry, exploring genuine quantum effects on gravity.

Findings

Measured Eotvos ratio with low 10^{-9} uncertainty

Improved previous WEP test results by nearly two orders of magnitude

Demonstrated feasibility of testing quantum aspects of gravity with atoms

Abstract

The Einstein Equivalence Principle (EEP) has a central role in the understanding of gravity and space-time. In its weak form, or Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP), it directly implies equivalence between inertial and gravitational mass. Verifying this principle in a regime where the relevant properties of the test body must be described by quantum theory has profound implications. Here we report on a novel WEP test for atoms. A Bragg atom interferometer in a gravity gradiometer configuration compares the free fall of rubidium atoms prepared in two hyperfine states and in their coherent superposition. The use of the superposition state allows testing genuine quantum aspects of EEP with no classical analogue, which have remained completely unexplored so far. In addition, we measure the Eotvos ratio of atoms in two hyperfine levels with relative uncertainty in the low $10^{-9}$, improving previous results by almost two orders of magnitude.

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Full text

See pages 1-last of eqmagia.pdf