Atom interferometers with their extremely high sensitivity to inertial forces are an excellent method for investigating and understanding gravity and its gradients. Studying gravity using quantum mechanical test sources, such as ultra-cold atoms, is an exciting choice for probing physics at this intersection. Here work is presented towards the realization of novel atom interferometers based upon Cd and Sr atoms, which posses a common electronic structure with two valence electrons, also providing access to narrow linewidth intercombination transitions. For these experiments, a novel, high-power, tunable, narrow-linewidth VECSEL source has been developed, which acts as a master source to produce continuous light at either 461 nm or 229 nm, corresponding to the cooling transitions in Sr and Cd atoms, respectively. The laser systems for accessing the clock transition and also the inter-combination transition have also been implemented. The current design of the vacuuum chamber is presented, which involves the transfer of the prepared ultracold atomic clouds from preparatory chambers to a science chamber. Towards this, we have also simulated the generation of a cold atomic source of Cd, which is a key component in producing a high sensitivity atom interferometer.
Matter-wave interferometers operating as clocks and gravimeters allow for precision measurements of time and gravity at unprecedented levels. In all these sensors, the exquisite control of both the internal (electronic) and external (center-of-mass motion) degrees of freedom of ultracold atomic samples enable interactions at their most basic, quantum level to be studied, paving the way for new tests of fundamental physics. For all these applications, novel interferometric schemes based on the narrow intercombination transitions of alkali-earth (and alkali-earth like) atoms have recently gained considerable attention. Here we present the work towards the realization of a simultaneous atom interferometer with cadmium and strontium atoms and the potential physics such a system could explore, along the idea of the ERC - “TICTOCGRAV” EU research project. In particular, we present the design and implementation of the high-power UV laser sources necessary for performing atom interferometry with cadmium and the prospects for developing a high-flux, cold source of cadmium. Potential applications of a simultaneous cadmium and strontium atom interferometer, including to weak equivalence principle and quantum time dilation tests, are discussed.
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