Mainz 2026 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 82: Matter Wave Interferometry, Metrology, and Fundamental Physics IV

Q 82.6: Talk

Friday, March 6, 2026, 15:45–16:00, P 11

Towards measuring the gravitational influence of a test mass using the Very Long Baseline Atom Interferometry facility. — •Guillermo A. Perez Lobato, Vishu Gupta, Kai C. Grensemann, Klaus H. Zipfel, Ernst M. Rasel, and Dennis Schlippert — Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Quantenoptik

One of the scientific objectives of the Very Long Baseline Atom Interferometry (VLBAI) facility in Hannover is to investigate how gravity affects quantum objects such as macroscopically delocallized atomic wave functions. Using the 10 m baseline we plan to position additional test masses at 15 cm from the atoms. Including and removing the additional test mass will allow us to perform a differential measurement in order to determine the gravitational influence of the test mass on the atomic wave function. For this measurement to be possible, a series of technical requirements have to be met. For example: launching an ultracold sample of atoms with sub-nanokelvin effective energies, and giving the atoms a differential momentum sufficient to macroscopically delocallize the wave function. This contribution focuses on the progress in the facility during the past year, including the prototype system for positioning the masses with mm accuracy, demonstrating atom interferometry, and the plans to achieve the full potential of the facility. These include the progress towards achieving highly delocallized matter waves by the manipulation of rubidium atoms utilizing purely optical potentials for matter wave lensing, and control of the kinematics of the atoms for manipulation with Bragg beam splitting processes and Bloch oscillations for launch.

Keywords: Bose-Einstein condensates; Atom Interferometry; Quantum Sensing; Gravimetry