1
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Williams JR, Sackett CA, Ahlers H, Aveline DC, Boegel P, Botsi S, Charron E, Elliott ER, Gaaloul N, Giese E, Herr W, Kellogg JR, Kohel JM, Lay NE, Meister M, Müller G, Müller H, Oudrhiri K, Phillips L, Pichery A, Rasel EM, Roura A, Sbroscia M, Schleich WP, Schneider C, Schubert C, Sen B, Thompson RJ, Bigelow NP. Pathfinder experiments with atom interferometry in the Cold Atom Lab onboard the International Space Station. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6414. [PMID: 39138156 PMCID: PMC11322301 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50585-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Deployment of ultracold atom interferometers (AI) into space will capitalize on quantum advantages and the extended freefall of persistent microgravity to provide high-precision measurement capabilities for gravitational, Earth, and planetary sciences, and to enable searches for subtle forces signifying physics beyond General Relativity and the Standard Model. NASA's Cold Atom Lab (CAL) operates onboard the International Space Station as a multi-user facility for fundamental studies of ultracold atoms and to mature space-based quantum technologies. We report on pathfinding experiments utilizing ultracold 87Rb atoms in the CAL AI. A three-pulse Mach-Zehnder interferometer was studied to understand the influence of ISS vibrations. Additionally, Ramsey shear-wave interferometry was used to manifest interference patterns in a single run that were observable for over 150 ms free-expansion time. Finally, the CAL AI was used to remotely measure the Bragg laser photon recoil as a demonstration of the first quantum sensor using matter-wave interferometry in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Williams
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA.
| | - Charles A Sackett
- Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
| | - Holger Ahlers
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - David C Aveline
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Patrick Boegel
- Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sofia Botsi
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Eric Charron
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Ethan R Elliott
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Naceur Gaaloul
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Enno Giese
- Technische Universität Darmstadt, Fachbereich Physik, Institut für Angewandte Physik, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Waldemar Herr
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - James R Kellogg
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - James M Kohel
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Norman E Lay
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Matthias Meister
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Quantum Technologies, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Gabriel Müller
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Holger Müller
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kamal Oudrhiri
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Leah Phillips
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Annie Pichery
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ernst M Rasel
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Albert Roura
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Quantum Technologies, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Matteo Sbroscia
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Wolfgang P Schleich
- Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering (IQSE), Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Christian Schneider
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Christian Schubert
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bejoy Sen
- Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Robert J Thompson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Nicholas P Bigelow
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute of Optics, Center for Coherence and Quantum Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA.
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2
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Ciardi M, Cinti F, Pellicane G, Prestipino S. Supersolid Phases of Bosonic Particles in a Bubble Trap. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:026001. [PMID: 38277582 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.026001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Confinement can have a considerable effect on the behavior of particle systems and is therefore an effective way to discover new phenomena. A notable example is a system of identical bosons at low temperature under an external field mimicking an isotropic bubble trap, which constrains the particles to a portion of space close to a spherical surface. Using path integral Monte Carlo simulations, we examine the spatial structure and superfluid fraction in two emblematic cases. First, we look at soft-core bosons, finding the existence of supersolid cluster arrangements with polyhedral symmetry; we show how different numbers of clusters are stabilized depending on the trap radius and the particle mass, and we characterize the temperature behavior of the cluster phases. A detailed comparison with the behavior of classical soft-core particles is provided too. Then, we examine the case, of more immediate experimental interest, of a dipolar condensate on the sphere, demonstrating how a quasi-one-dimensional supersolid of clusters is formed on a great circle for realistic values of density and interaction parameters. Crucially, this supersolid phase is only slightly disturbed by gravity. We argue that the predicted phases can be revealed in magnetic traps with spherical-shell geometry, possibly even in a lab on Earth. Our results pave the way for future simulation studies of correlated quantum systems in curved geometries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Ciardi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, TU Wien, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10/136, 1040 Vienna, Austria
- INFN, Sezione di Firenze, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Fabio Cinti
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
- INFN, Sezione di Firenze, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Giuseppe Pellicane
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Odontoiatriche e delle Immagini Morfologiche e Funzionali, Università degli Studi di Messina, I-98125 Messina, Italy
- CNR-IPCF, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres, 37-98158, Messina, Italy
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of Kwazulu-Natal, 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- National Institute of Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NIThECS), 3209 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Santi Prestipino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, I-98166 Messina, Italy
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3
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Elliott ER, Aveline DC, Bigelow NP, Boegel P, Botsi S, Charron E, D'Incao JP, Engels P, Estrampes T, Gaaloul N, Kellogg JR, Kohel JM, Lay NE, Lundblad N, Meister M, Mossman ME, Müller G, Müller H, Oudrhiri K, Phillips LE, Pichery A, Rasel EM, Sackett CA, Sbroscia M, Schleich WP, Thompson RJ, Williams JR. Quantum gas mixtures and dual-species atom interferometry in space. Nature 2023; 623:502-508. [PMID: 37968524 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06645-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The capability to reach ultracold atomic temperatures in compact instruments has recently been extended into space1,2. Ultracold temperatures amplify quantum effects, whereas free fall allows further cooling and longer interactions time with gravity-the final force without a quantum description. On Earth, these devices have produced macroscopic quantum phenomena such as Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), superfluidity, and strongly interacting quantum gases3. Terrestrial quantum sensors interfering the superposition of two ultracold atomic isotopes have tested the universality of free fall (UFF), a core tenet of Einstein's classical gravitational theory, at the 10-12 level4. In space, cooling the elements needed to explore the rich physics of strong interactions or perform quantum tests of the UFF has remained elusive. Here, using upgraded hardware of the multiuser Cold Atom Lab (CAL) instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS), we report, to our knowledge, the first simultaneous production of a dual-species BEC in space (formed from 87Rb and 41K), observation of interspecies interactions, as well as the production of 39K ultracold gases. Operating a single laser at a 'magic wavelength' at which Rabi rates of simultaneously applied Bragg pulses are equal, we have further achieved the first spaceborne demonstration of simultaneous atom interferometry with two atomic species (87Rb and 41K). These results are an important step towards quantum tests of UFF in space and will allow scientists to investigate aspects of few-body physics, quantum chemistry and fundamental physics in new regimes without the perturbing asymmetry of gravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan R Elliott
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - David C Aveline
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas P Bigelow
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Patrick Boegel
- Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sofia Botsi
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Eric Charron
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - José P D'Incao
- JILA, NIST, and the Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Peter Engels
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Timothé Estrampes
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France
- Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Naceur Gaaloul
- Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - James R Kellogg
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - James M Kohel
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Norman E Lay
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Nathan Lundblad
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Bates College, Lewiston, ME, USA
| | - Matthias Meister
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Quantum Technologies, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maren E Mossman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gabriel Müller
- Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Holger Müller
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kamal Oudrhiri
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Leah E Phillips
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Annie Pichery
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Orsay, France
- Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ernst M Rasel
- Institute of Quantum Optics, QUEST-Leibniz Research School, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Charles A Sackett
- Physics Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Matteo Sbroscia
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Wolfgang P Schleich
- Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering (IQSE), Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Robert J Thompson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Jason R Williams
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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Li L, Zhou C, Xiong W, Huang M, Fang S, Xu X, Ji J, Gao M, Song T, Hong Y, Liang Z, Chen D, Hou X, Zhou X, Chen X, Chen W, Wang B, Li T, Liu L. All-fiber laser system for all-optical 87Rb Bose Einstein condensate to space application. APPLIED OPTICS 2023; 62:7844-7851. [PMID: 37855495 DOI: 10.1364/ao.497749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
In the development of the Cold Atom Physics Research Rack (CAPR) on board the Chinese Space Station, the laser system plays a critical role in preparing the all-optical 87 R b Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). An all-fiber laser system has been developed for CAPR to provide the required optical fields for atom interaction and to maintain the beam pointing in long-term operation. The laser system integrates a 780 nm fiber laser system and an all-fiber optical control module for sub-Doppler cooling, as well as an all-fiber 1064 nm laser system for evaporative cooling. The high-power, single-frequency 780 nm lasers are achieved through rare-Earth doped fiber amplification, fiber frequency-doubling, and frequency stabilization technology. The all-fiber optical control module divides the output of the 780 nm laser system into 15 channels and regulates them for cooling, trapping, and probing atoms. Moreover, the power consistency of each pair of cooling beams is ensured by three power tracking modules, which is a prerequisite for maintaining stable MOT and molasses. A high-power, compact, controlled-flexible, and highly stable l064 nm all-fiber laser system employing two-stage ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier (YDFA) technology has been designed for evaporative cooling in the optical dipole trap (ODT). Finally, an all-optical 87 R b BEC is realized with this all-fiber laser system, which provides an alternative solution for trapping and manipulating ultra-cold atoms in challenging environmental conditions.
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5
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A space-based quantum gas laboratory at picokelvin energy scales. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7889. [PMID: 36550117 PMCID: PMC9780313 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35274-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultracold quantum gases are ideal sources for high-precision space-borne sensing as proposed for Earth observation, relativistic geodesy and tests of fundamental physical laws as well as for studying new phenomena in many-body physics during extended free fall. Here we report on experiments with the Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station, where we have achieved exquisite control over the quantum state of single 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensates paving the way for future high-precision measurements. In particular, we have applied fast transport protocols to shuttle the atomic cloud over a millimeter distance with sub-micrometer accuracy and subsequently drastically reduced the total expansion energy to below 100 pK with matter-wave lensing techniques.
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6
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Jia F, Huang Z, Qiu L, Zhou R, Yan Y, Wang D. Expansion Dynamics of a Shell-Shaped Bose-Einstein Condensate. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 129:243402. [PMID: 36563247 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.243402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We report the creation of a shell BEC in the presence of Earth's gravity with immiscible dual-species BECs of sodium and rubidium atoms. After minimizing the displacement between the centers of mass of the two BECs with a magic-wavelength optical dipole trap, the interspecies repulsive interaction ensures the formation of a closed shell of sodium atoms with its center filled by rubidium atoms. Releasing the double BEC together from the trap, we observe explosion of the filled shell accompanied by energy transfer from the inner BEC to the shell BEC. With the inner BEC removed, we obtain a hollow shell BEC that shows self-interference as a manifestation of implosion. Our results pave an alternative way for investigating many of the intriguing physics offered by shell BECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Jia
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zerong Huang
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liyuan Qiu
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rongzi Zhou
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yangqian Yan
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, 518057 Shenzhen, China
| | - Dajun Wang
- Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, 518057 Shenzhen, China
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7
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Bassi A, Cacciapuoti L, Capozziello S, Dell'Agnello S, Diamanti E, Giulini D, Iess L, Jetzer P, Joshi SK, Landragin A, Poncin-Lafitte CL, Rasel E, Roura A, Salomon C, Ulbricht H. A way forward for fundamental physics in space. NPJ Microgravity 2022; 8:49. [PMID: 36336703 PMCID: PMC9637703 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-022-00229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Space-based research can provide a major leap forward in the study of key open questions in the fundamental physics domain. They include the validity of Einstein's Equivalence principle, the origin and the nature of dark matter and dark energy, decoherence and collapse models in quantum mechanics, and the physics of quantum many-body systems. Cold-atom sensors and quantum technologies have drastically changed the approach to precision measurements. Atomic clocks and atom interferometers as well as classical and quantum links can be used to measure tiny variations of the space-time metric, elusive accelerations, and faint forces to test our knowledge of the physical laws ruling the Universe. In space, such instruments can benefit from unique conditions that allow improving both their precision and the signal to be measured. In this paper, we discuss the scientific priorities of a space-based research program in fundamental physics.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bassi
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trieste Section, Via Valerio 2, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - L Cacciapuoti
- European Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1 - P.O. Box 299, 2200 AG, Noordwijk, ZH, The Netherlands.
| | - S Capozziello
- Dipartimento di Fisica 'E. Pancini', Università di Napoli 'Federico II', INFN, Sezione di Napoli, via Cinthia 9, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale, Largo S. Marcellino 10, I-80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - S Dell'Agnello
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (INFN-LNF), via E. Fermi 54, 00044, Frascati (Rome), Italy
| | - E Diamanti
- LIP6, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - D Giulini
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstrasse 2, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - L Iess
- Sapienza Università di Roma, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - P Jetzer
- Department of Physics, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - S K Joshi
- Quantum Engineering Technology Labs, H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory & Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - A Landragin
- SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, LNE, Paris, France
| | - C Le Poncin-Lafitte
- SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, LNE, Paris, France
| | - E Rasel
- Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Quantenoptik, Welfengarten 1, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - A Roura
- Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Wilhelm-Runge-Straße 10, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - C Salomon
- Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS-Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - H Ulbricht
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, United Kingdom
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