Space magnetometry with a differential atom interferometer

2025/05/29 by Matthias Meister, Meister, Matthias, Gabriel Müller +35
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2505.23532

openalex publication_date 2025/05/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Atom interferometers deployed in space are excellent tools for high precision measurements, navigation, or Earth observation. In particular, differential interferometric setups feature common-mode noise suppression and enable reliable measurements in the presence of ambient platform noise. Here we report on orbital magnetometry campaigns performed with differential single- and double-loop interferometers in NASA's Cold Atom Lab aboard the International Space Station. By comparing measurements with atoms in magnetically sensitive and insensitive states, we have realized atomic magnetometers mapping magnetic field curvatures. Our results pave the way towards precision quantum sensing missions in space.

Citations

• Quantum-assured magnetic navigation achieves positioning accuracy better than a strategic-grade INS in airborne and ground-based field trials
• Local Measurement Scheme of Gravitational Curvature using Atom Interferometers
• Realization of cold atom gyroscope in space
• Platform and environment requirements of a satellite quantum test of the Weak Equivalence Principle at the 10^-17 level
• Matter-wave collimation to picokelvin energies with scattering length and potential shape control
• Quantum Gas Mixtures and Dual-Species Atom Interferometry in Space
• The space cold atom interferometer for testing the equivalence principle in the China Space Station
• Atom-Interferometric Test of the Equivalence Principle at the 10−12 Level
• Space-borne Bose-Einstein condensation for precision interferometry
• High-order inertial phase shifts for time-domain atom interferometers

Related

• Pathfinder experiments with atom interferometry in the Cold Atom Lab onboard the International Space Station
• Interferometry of Atomic Matter Waves in the Cold Atom Lab onboard the International Space Station
• Unambiguous measurement in an unshielded microscale magnetometer with sensitivity below 1 pT/rHz
• Quantum sensing of acceleration and rotation by interfering magnetically-launched atoms
• Advances in Atom Interferometry and their Impacts on the Performance of Quantum Accelerometers On-board Future Satellite Gravity Missions