In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866911541370028032 |
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| author | Zhang, Dan-Fang Li, Jing-Ting Wang, Wen-Zhang Xu, Wei-Hao Wei, Jia-Yi Li, Xiao Wang, Yi-Bo Gao, Dong-Feng Zhong, Jia-Qi Tang, Biao Zhou, Lin Li, Run-Bing Sun, Huan-Yao Chen, Qun-Feng Qin, Lei An, Mei-zhen Li, Zong-Feng Wang, Shu-Quan Guo, Xiao-Xiao Tian, Yao Yu, Xi-He Zhong, Hong-En Chen, Xi Wang, Jin Zhan, Ming-Sheng |
| author_facet | Zhang, Dan-Fang Li, Jing-Ting Wang, Wen-Zhang Xu, Wei-Hao Wei, Jia-Yi Li, Xiao Wang, Yi-Bo Gao, Dong-Feng Zhong, Jia-Qi Tang, Biao Zhou, Lin Li, Run-Bing Sun, Huan-Yao Chen, Qun-Feng Qin, Lei An, Mei-zhen Li, Zong-Feng Wang, Shu-Quan Guo, Xiao-Xiao Tian, Yao Yu, Xi-He Zhong, Hong-En Chen, Xi Wang, Jin Zhan, Ming-Sheng |
| contents | The Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) is a central pillar of general relativity. Its precise test with quantum systems in space offers a unique window onto new physics. Here we report the first in-orbit quantum test of the WEP. A dual-species (85Rb/87Rb) atom interferometer is realized aboard the China Space Station. Methods of platform motion suppression, fluorescence detection switching, and two-photon detuning switching are developed to eliminate phase noise and improve measurement accuracy. A test uncertainty of 2.8*10-8 is obtained from 280 days of WEP test data, and a test result of (-3.1+/-4.6)*10-7 is achieved after error estimation. This improves prior atom-interferometric WEP tests in microgravity by three orders of magnitude. This work paves the way for space-borne quantum inertial sensors and their application to future fundamental physics in space. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_22981 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry Zhang, Dan-Fang Li, Jing-Ting Wang, Wen-Zhang Xu, Wei-Hao Wei, Jia-Yi Li, Xiao Wang, Yi-Bo Gao, Dong-Feng Zhong, Jia-Qi Tang, Biao Zhou, Lin Li, Run-Bing Sun, Huan-Yao Chen, Qun-Feng Qin, Lei An, Mei-zhen Li, Zong-Feng Wang, Shu-Quan Guo, Xiao-Xiao Tian, Yao Yu, Xi-He Zhong, Hong-En Chen, Xi Wang, Jin Zhan, Ming-Sheng Atomic Physics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Applied Physics Space Physics Quantum Physics The Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) is a central pillar of general relativity. Its precise test with quantum systems in space offers a unique window onto new physics. Here we report the first in-orbit quantum test of the WEP. A dual-species (85Rb/87Rb) atom interferometer is realized aboard the China Space Station. Methods of platform motion suppression, fluorescence detection switching, and two-photon detuning switching are developed to eliminate phase noise and improve measurement accuracy. A test uncertainty of 2.8*10-8 is obtained from 280 days of WEP test data, and a test result of (-3.1+/-4.6)*10-7 is achieved after error estimation. This improves prior atom-interferometric WEP tests in microgravity by three orders of magnitude. This work paves the way for space-borne quantum inertial sensors and their application to future fundamental physics in space. |
| title | In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry |
| topic | Atomic Physics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Applied Physics Space Physics Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22981 |