I.C.E.: a transportable atomic inertial sensor for test in microgravity

Abstract

We present our the construction of an atom interferometer for inertial sensing in microgravity, as part of the I.C.E. (Interférométrie Cohérente pour l'Espace) collaboration. On-board laser systems have been developed based on fibre-optic components, which are insensitive to mechanical vibrations and acoustic noise, have sub-MHz linewidth, and remain frequency stabilised for weeks at a time. A compact, transportable vacuum system has been built, and used for laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping. We will use a mixture of quantum degenerate gases, bosonic 87 Rb and fermionic 40 K, in order to find the optimal conditions for precision and sensitivity of inertial measurements. Microgravity will be realised in parabolic flights lasting up to 20s in an Airbus.

Cold atoms in space: community workshop summary and proposed road-map

“…Experiments have been performed in a drop tower (QUANTUS, PRIMUS) [269][270][271], on parabolic flights (Interférométrie Cohérente pour l'Espace, I.C.E.) [272], on sounding rockets (MAIUS) [189], and on the ISS (CAL) [182]. The planned BECCAL mission [273] is the next-generation ultra-cold atom laboratory, including high-precision atom interferometry, and is being prepared for deployment on the ISS.…”