Determination of the Newtonian Gravitational Constant Using Atom Interferometry

G. Lamporesi, A. Bertoldi, L. Cacciapuoti, M. Prevedelli, and G. M. Tino
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 050801 – Published 8 February 2008

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=6.667×1011m3kg1s2, estimating a statistical uncertainty of ±0.011×1011m3kg1s2 and a systematic uncertainty of ±0.003×1011m3kg1s2. 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.

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  • Received 28 August 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.050801

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

G. Lamporesi1, A. Bertoldi1, L. Cacciapuoti2, M. Prevedelli3, and G. M. Tino1,*

  • 1Dipartimento di Fisica and LENS, Università di Firenze—INFN Sezione di Firenze, Via Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
  • 2ESA Research and Scientific Support Department, ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1—P.O. Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk ZH, The Netherlands
  • 3Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica e Inorganica, Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy

  • *Guglielmo.Tino@fi.infn.it

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Vol. 100, Iss. 5 — 8 February 2008

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