Determination of the newtonian gravitational constant using atom interferometry

Year: 2008

Authors: Lamporesi G., Bertoldi A., Cacciapuoti L., Prevedelli M., Tino G.M.

Autors Affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica and LENS, Universita` di Firenze—INFN Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; ESA Research and Scientific Support Department, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1—P.O. Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk ZH, The Netherlands; Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica e Inorganica, Universita` di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy

Abstract: We present a new measurement of the Newtonian gravitational constant G based on cold-atom interferometry. Freely falling samples of laser-cooled rubidium atoms are used in a gravity gradiometer to probe the field generated by nearby source masses. In addition to its potential sensitivity, this method is intriguing as gravity is explored by a quantum system. We report a value of G=6.667×10(-11) m(3) kg(-1) s(-2), estimating a statistical uncertainty of +/- 0.011×10(-11) m(3) kg(-1) s(-2) and a systematic uncertainty of +/- 0.003×10(-11) m(3) kg(-1) s(-2). The long-term stability of the instrument and the signal-to-noise ratio demonstrated here open interesting perspectives for pushing the measurement accuracy below the 100 ppm level.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 100 (5)      Pages from: 050801  to: 050801

KeyWords: Newtonian constant; atomic sensors; atom interferometry
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.050801

Citations: 199
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