Fundamental Physics Activities in the
HME Directorate of the
European Space Agency
L. Cacciapuoti and O. Minster
ESA/ESTEC
Washington, 24 May 2006
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Why Fundamental Physics in Space?
• Space is a unique environment
– Infinitely long and unperturbed “free fall” conditions
– Long interaction times: improved resolution for the measurement of
weak effects
– Quiet environmental conditions
– The cosmic particle content in space
– Huge free-propagation distances and variations in altitude
– Large velocities and velocity variations
– Large variations of the gravitational potential
• …but
– It is costly
– Limited repeatability
• Nevertheless, there are space platforms providing good freefall conditions and allowing to intervene on experiments
… at reasonable costs
Washington, 24 May 2006
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HME Microgravity Facilities
Space capsules
Sounding rockets
Parabolic flights
Bremen drop-tower
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The ISS and the Columbus Module
EADS Space Transportation
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HME Activities in Fundamental Physics
• The ACES mission
• Future projects in fundamental physics
– Cold and ultracold atoms in space
• Space Optical Clocks
• Atom Interferometry Sensors for Space Applications
• BEC in Space
– Quantum communication in space
• Space-QUEST
• Activities in other ESA Directorates for
– Initiating studies
– Developing key technology and subsystems
Washington, 24 May 2006
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The
Washington, 24 May 2006
Mission
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ACES: Validating Key Instruments in Space
ACES performances
Scientific background and recent results
Test of a new generation of space clocks
Study of cold atom physics in microgravity
Essential for the development of atomic
quantum sensors for space applications (optical
clocks, atom interferometers, atom lasers)
Test of the
space cold atom
clock PHARAO
Frequency instability: < 3∙10-16 at 1 day
Inaccuracy:
~ 10-16
Short term frequency instability evaluated
by direct comparison to SHM.
Long term instability and systematic
frequency shifts measured by comparison
to ultra-stable ground clocks.
Frequency instability: optical clocks surpass
PHARAO by one or more orders of magnitude.
Inaccuracy: at present, cesium fountain clocks
are the most accurate frequency standards.
Test of the
space hydrogen
maser SHM
Frequency instability: < 2.1∙10-15 at 1000 s
< 1.5∙10-15 at 10000 s
Medium
term
frequency
instability
evaluated by direct comparison to ultrastable ground clocks.
Long term instability determined by onboard comparison to PHARAO in FCDP.
Cold atoms in
micro-gravity
Washington, 24 May 2006
Performances of state-of-the-art masers
sy (1000 s)
sy (10000 s)
GALILEO
3.2∙10-14
1.0∙10-14
EFOS C
2.0∙10-15
2.0∙10-15
Maser
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ACES: Validating Key Instruments in Space
ACES performances
Scientific background and recent results
Precise and accurate time and frequency transfer
Test of the time
and frequency
link MWL
Time transfer stability: < 0.3 ps at 300 s
< 7 ps at 1day
< 23 ps at 10 days
Time and
frequency
comparisons
between ground
clocks
Common view comparisons with an
uncertainty level below 1 ps per ISS pass.
Non common view comparisons at an
uncertainty level of
- 2 ps for  1000 s
- 5 ps for  10000 s
- 20 ps for  1 day
Absolute
synchronization
of ground
clocks
Absolute synchronization of ground clock
time scales with an uncertainty of 100 ps.
Contribution to
atomic time
scales
Comparison
of
primary
frequency
standards with accuracy at the 10-16 level.
Washington, 24 May 2006
At present, no time and frequency transfer link
has performances comparable with MWL.
Existing
T&F links
Time
stability
(1day)
Time
accuracy
(1day)
Frequency
accuracy
(1day)
GPS-DB
2 ns
3-10 ns
4∙10-14
GPS-CV
1 ns
1-5 ns
2∙10-14
GPS-CP
0.1 ns
1-3 ns
2∙10-15
TWSTFT
0.1-0.2 ns
1 ns
2-4∙10-15
These performances will allow time and
frequency transfer at an unprecedented level of
stability and accuracy. The development of such
links is mandatory for space experiments based
on high accuracy frequency standards.
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Pioneering aspects of the ACES mission
• Technology demonstrator for cold
atom based missions
• First μg experiments with cold atoms
• Validation in space of complex laser
systems
• Validation of a new generation of
atomic clocks
• Precursor of optical clocks: towards
the 10-18 stability and accuracy
regime
• Demonstration of stable and accurate
time and frequency transfer
• Long-distance clock-to-clock
comparisons
• Contribution to high performance
global time scale
Quantum Probes
Atomic Clocks
Quantum Matter
from E. Rasel et al.
These results will arrive in time to prepare the next
generation of atomic quantum sensors for space
Washington, 24 May 2006
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ESA AO-2004: Ultracold Atoms in Microgravity
• Optical Clocks in Space
– Atomic clock ensemble for space applications based on the optical
transitions of strontium and ytterbium atoms
– Stability and accuracy of at the 10-17- 10-18 level
– Such performances will impose major efforts to improve existing techniques
for time and frequency transfer both space-ground and space-space
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ESA AO-2004: Ultracold Atoms in Microgravity
• Atom Interferometry Sensors for Space Applications
– Space-based instrument for the measurement of tiny rotations and
acceleration and for the detection of faint forces
– Quantum and metrological sciences; direct applications in inertial navigation,
Earth observation, geodesy, and geology
Sensitivity to accelerations (108 atoms):
Ground 10-10 g/√Hz (expansion time 0.2 s)
Space 10-12 g/√Hz (expansion time 3 s)
Sensitivity to rotations (108 atoms):
Ground: 10-9 rad/√Hz (expansion time 0.025 s)
Space: 810-12 rad/√Hz (expansion time 3 s)
Earth rotation rate: 7.2 10-5 rad/s
from E. Rasel et al.
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ESA AO-2004: Ultracold Atoms in Microgravity
• BEC in Space
– BEC facility in microgravity
– Based on the technology development of the BEC
“Drop-Tower” experiment (DLR pilot project)
– Physics of degenerate Bose gases in mg and
applications to atomic quantum sensors based on
coherent matter-waves
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Science and Applications
Atomic Clocks
Atom Interferometers
Degenerate Quantum Gases
Fundamental Physics
• Standard Model Extension
tests
• Universality of the
gravitational red-shift
• Time variations of
fundamental constants
• Gravitational red-shift
• Shapiro time delay and 1/c3
effects
• Gravitational waves detection
Applications
• Atomic time scales (TAI)
• Time & Frequency metrology
• Deep space navigation
• Doppler tracking
• Synchronization of DSNA
• VLBI
• Time & Frequency transfer
• Gravity mapping
• Planetary exploration
Fundamental Physics
• Weak Equivalence Principle
tests
• Measurement of fundamental
constants
• Time variations of fundamental
constants
• Measurement of the gravitomagnetic effect
• Tests of the Newton’s law at
short distances
• Gravitational waves detection
Applications
• Inertial navigation
• Earth observation and
monitoring
• Geology and vulcanology
• Gravity and gravity-gradient
mapping
• Planetary exploration
Fundamental Physics
• Thermodynamics of the phase
transition at ultra-low
temperatures
• Collective excitations in the
weak trapping regime
• BEC coherence properties in
microgravity
• Role of interactions in BEC:
dipolar forces and short range
interactions
• Dynamics of Bose mixtures in
microgravity
Applications
• Atomic sources for atom
interferometry
• High-resolution
interferometric measurements
with dilute coherent matter
waves
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ESA AO-2004: Quantum Communication
• Optical communication link:
– Entangled photons transmitter on the
ISS (CEPF)
– Optical receivers in one or more
ground stations (laser ranging stations)
– Separation of receiving ground
stations up to 1600 km
• Fundamental tests of quantum
physics:
– Bell’s inequality tests on entangled
photons
– Decoherence effects
• Quantum communication on global
scale:
– QKD between ISS and a ground
station
– QK exchange between ground stations
arbitrarily separated via the ISS
Washington, 24 May 2006
from A. Zeilinger et al.
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ESA AO-2004: Quantum Communication
Quantum communication space terminal based on the OPTEL25 optical
terminal designed by CONTRAVES for intersatellite communication
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Proposed in the ELIPS 2 Programme
• ELIPS 2 programme:
– Discussed during the last Ministerial Council (December 2005)
– Subscribed by almost all EU Member States with two new contributors,
Greece and Canada
• ISS exploitation programme continuation approved:
– Programme will reach full speed at the launch of the Columbus module (20072008 time frame)
• Proposals in the Fundamental Physics  consolidation study in ELIPS 2
– Cold-atom-based sensors for fundamental physics studies
• Space Optical Clocks
• Atom Interferometry Sensors for Space Applications
• BEC in Space
Prototypes
– Quantum communication
• Space-QUEST
• Upcoming events:
– Final programme approved by the European Utilisation Board on the 10-11
May
– Formal approval by the HME Programme Board on the 29-30 May
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Activities in Other ESA Directorates
• Laser systems
– Nd-doped mixed garnet lasers (TRP, E. Murphy, TEC-MME)
• Lasers at 935 nm and 942 nm: generation of blue sources for laser cooling
– Ultra-narrow linewidth DFB lasers at 894nm (GSTP, E. Murphy, TEC-MME)
• Application in primary frequency standards
– FP laser diode technology development at 779 nm and 894 nm (GSTP, E.
Murphy, TEC-MME)
• Manipulation and interrogation of Rb and Cs atoms
• Time and frequency metrology
– Optical clocks (GSP, J. De Vicente Olmedo, OPS-GSS)
• Study on feasibility and applications of optical clocks as frequency and time
references in ESA deep space stations
– Optical frequency synthesizer (GSP, E. Murphy, TEC-MME)
• Study to assess present technology developments and produce new ideas
– Critical optical frequency comb technologies (GSTP, E. Murphy, TEC-MME)
• Synthesis of optical frequencies and identification of critical issues for space
qualification
– Frequency reference dissemination (GSP, E. Murphy, TEC-MME)
• Free-space and fiber-based remote comparison
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Activities in Other ESA Directorates
• Atom interferometry
– Laser cooled atomic sensors for ultra-high accuracy gravitational acceleration
and rotation measurements (TRP, B. Leone, TEC-MME)
• High performance space source for laser cooled atoms
• Requirements derived from the HYPER mission, but valid for future inertial sensors
based on matter-wave interferometry (gravimeters, gyroscopes,…)
• Quantum communication
– Study on quantum communication in space (GSTP, J. Perdigues Armengol
and B. Furch, TEC-MMO)
– Accommodation of a quantum communication transceiver in an optical
terminal (GSTP, J. Perdigues Armengol and B. Furch, TEC-MMO)
– Experimental evaluation of quantum communication in the framework of the
current needs of space systems (GSTP, J. Perdigues Armengol and B. Furch,
TEC-MMO)
• Design, development, and experimental evaluation of a proof-of-concept
demonstrator
• Successful transmission of entangled photons and QKD over 144 km
– Photonic transceiver for secure space communication (GSTP, J. Perdigues
Armengol and B. Furch, TEC-MMO)
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Conclusions
• The development of projects on cold-atom based systems
and quantum communication techniques will bring about
– Outstanding scientific results
– Mature, space-proved technology
within a plausible timeframe of 6 to 10 years
• Unique opportunity to consolidate this kind of technology and
prepare key instruments for future space missions
• Coordination of all potential efforts of ESA, National
Agencies, and scientists on these initiatives
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International Workshop
Advances in Precision Tests and
Experimental Gravitation in Space
GALILEO GALILEI INSTITUTE
28-30 September 2006
Firenze, ITALY
http://www.fi.infn.it/GGI-grav-space/egs_w.html
The workshop is intended to:
•
•
•
•
Present recent results and advances in precision instruments and tests of
fundamental laws of physics both on ground and in space
Discuss how ground-based experiments can be extended into space missions
to test our understanding of the Universe
Present new ideas and proposals for the next generation of fundamental
physics “explorers” in space
Encourage international collaborations between research institutes on topics of
common interest
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List of Topics
• Fundamental physics with clocks
– Recent advances on atomic
frequency standards and precision
measurements;
– Fundamental physics tests with
clocks on ground and in space;
– Atomic clock missions in space
• Atom interferometry and detection of
weak forces
– Inertial sensors
– Atom interferometers for gravitational
physics experiments
– Tests of gravity at short distances
– Measurement of Casimir forces
– Ultracold quantum gases
• Precision measurements and
fundamental constants
– Newtonian gravitational constant G
– h/m and fine structure constant
– …
Washington, 24 May 2006
• Einstein’s Equivalence Principle tests
on ground and in space
– Universality of the free fall
– Clock tests of the Local Lorentz
Invariance and Local Position
Invariance
–…
• Tests of metric theories of gravity
– Measurement of the Lense-Thirring
effect
– Measurements of the gravitoelectric
perigee shift
– Tests of gravity at long distances
– Laser ranging tests
–…
• Status on gravitational waves
detection
Abstracts submission deadline: 15th
July 2006
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Committees
Organizing Committee:
L. Cacciapuoti (ESTEC, The Netherlands)
W. Ertmer (IQ, Germany)
C. Salomon (ENS, France)
G.M. Tino (University of Firenze, Italy)
Scientific Committee:
L. Cacciapuoti (ESTEC, The Netherlands)
T. Damour (IHES, France)
W. Ertmer (IQ, Germany)
P. Gill (NPL, United Kingdom)
S. Leon (CNES, France)
A. Nobili (University of Pisa, Italy)
C. Nary Man (Observatoire Côte d’Azur, France)
W. Phillips (NIST, USA)
S. Reynaud (LKB, France)
C. Salomon (LKB, France)
S. Schiller (University of Düsseldorf, Germany)
G. M. Tino (University of Firenze, Italy)
G. Veneziano (CERN, Switzerland)
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