Abstract

Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) is a mission designed to test Einstein’s theory of General Relativity from the International Space Station (ISS). A primary frequency standard based on laser cooled caesium atoms (PHARAO) and an active H-maser (SHM) generate a clock signal that is distributed to a network of clocks on the ground to perform space-to-ground comparison. With a fractional frequency stability of 1 × 10⁻¹⁶ after 10 days of integration time and an accuracy of 1 – 2 × 10⁻¹⁶, ACES will provide an absolute measurement of the gravitational redshift, it will search for time variations of fundamental constant, and perform Standard Model Extension (SME) tests. The ACES payload is currently completing its qualification tests before flying. The mission status, the latest test results, and the ACES performance for testing General Relativity are discussed.

Graphical abstract

中文翻译：

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使用太空中的冷原子钟测试重力

摘要

太空中的原子钟组（ACES）是一项任务，旨在测试国际空间站（ISS）的爱因斯坦的广义相对论。基于激光冷却的铯原子（PHARAO）和有源H-maser（SHM）的主频率标准生成一个时钟信号，该时钟信号分配到地面上的时钟网络，以执行空对地比较。积分时间为10天后，分数频率稳定性为1×10 ^-16，精度为1-2×10 ^-16，ACES将提供引力红移的绝对测量值，它将搜索基本常数的时间变化，并执行标准模型扩展（SME）测试。ACES有效载荷目前正在飞行之前完成其资格测试。讨论了任务状态，最新测试结果以及用于测试广义相对论的ACES性能。

图形概要