Quantum test of the equivalence principle for atoms in coherent superposition of internal energy states
- Author(s)
- G. Rosi, G. D'Amico, Luigi Cacciapuoti, Francesca Sorrentino, M. Prevedelli, M. Zych, C. Brukner, G. M. Tino
- 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 Eötvös ratio of atoms in two hyperfine levels with relative uncertainty in the low 10-9, improving previous results by almost two orders of magnitude.
- Organisation(s)
- Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information
- External organisation(s)
- University of Florence, European Space Agency (ESA), Università degli Studi di Genova, University of Bologna, University of Queensland, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW)
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Volume
- 8
- No. of pages
- 6
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15529
- Publication date
- 06-2017
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 103025 Quantum mechanics, 103005 Atomic physics, 103028 Theory of relativity
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all), Chemistry(all), Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/quantum-test-of-the-equivalence-principle-for-atoms-in-coherent-superposition-of-internal-energy-states(1b08eef0-a39f-4d54-bba4-207efe1e648a).html