Testing General Relativity with Atom Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper proposes an atom interferometry experiment capable of testing general relativity and the equivalence principle with unprecedented precision, surpassing current astrophysical limits and enabling detailed laboratory investigations of relativistic effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laboratory experiment using atom interferometry to test key predictions of general relativity with higher accuracy than existing methods.

Findings

Proposes testing the equivalence principle to 1 part in 10^15

Plans to probe relativistic effects like non-linear graviton coupling

Achieves laboratory tests that isolate relativistic effects from astrophysical observations

Abstract

The unprecedented precision of atom interferometry will soon lead to laboratory tests of general relativity to levels that will rival or exceed those reached by astrophysical observations. We propose such an experiment that will initially test the equivalence principle to 1 part in 10^15 (300 times better than the current limit), and 1 part in 10^17 in the future. It will also probe general relativistic effects--such as the non-linear three-graviton coupling, the gravity of an atom's kinetic energy, and the falling of light--to several decimals. Further, in contrast to astrophysical observations, laboratory tests can isolate these effects via their different functional dependence on experimental variables.