Single-bounce quantum gravimeter to measure the free-fall of anti-hydrogen

We propose an innovative concept for a quantum gravimeter, where atoms prepared in a Heisenberg-limited state perform a single bounce on a mirror followed by a free fall. This quantum gravimeter produces a simple and robust interference pattern which should allow to measure the free-fall acceleration of atoms. We estimate the expected accuracy of the measurement in the GBAR experiment, which aims at testing the equivalence principle on anti-hydrogen at CERN antimatter facilities. Using simulations and estimation techniques based on Cramer-Rao law and Fisher information, we show that the new quantum sensor improves the expected accuracy of the measurement. The proposal opens the door to free fall measurements on rare or exotic atomic species, especially in situations where experimental time or detection events are limited by intrinsic physical reasons.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physics Letters A
Published
2025-11-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physleta.2025.131107
Primary Topic
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Single-bounce quantum gravimeter to measure the free-fall of anti-hydrogen

Serge Reynaud, Pierre Cladé, J. Guyomard
Physics Letters A
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
article

Single-bounce quantum gravimeter to measure the free-fall of anti-hydrogen

Serge Reynaud, Pierre Cladé, J. Guyomard
article en

Abstract

We propose an innovative concept for a quantum gravimeter, where atoms prepared in a Heisenberg-limited state perform a single bounce on a mirror followed by a free fall. This quantum gravimeter produces a simple and robust interference pattern which should allow to measure the free-fall acceleration of atoms. We estimate the expected accuracy of the measurement in the GBAR experiment, which aims at testing the equivalence principle on anti-hydrogen at CERN antimatter facilities. Using simulations and estimation techniques based on Cramer-Rao law and Fisher information, we show that the new quantum sensor improves the expected accuracy of the measurement. The proposal opens the door to free fall measurements on rare or exotic atomic species, especially in situations where experimental time or detection events are limited by intrinsic physical reasons.

Physics Letters AVol. 565
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Collège de France (FR), Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (FR), École Normale Supérieure - PSL (FR), Sorbonne Université (FR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
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