Abstract

We propose a new scheme for an improved determination of the Newtonian gravitational constant G and evaluate it by numerical simulations. Cold atoms in free fall are probed by atom interferometry measurements to characterize the gravitational field generated by external source masses. Two source mass configurations having different geometries and using different materials are compared to identify an optimized experimental setup for the G measurement. The effects of the magnetic fields used to manipulate the atoms and to control the interferometer phase are also characterized.

Graphic abstract

中文翻译：

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用原子干涉法高精度测量 G 的新装置设计

摘要

我们提出了一种改进确定牛顿引力常数G的新方案，并通过数值模拟对其进行评估。通过原子干涉测量法探测自由落体中的冷原子，以表征外部源质量产生的引力场。比较具有不同几何形状和使用不同材料的两种源质量配置，以确定G测量的优化实验设置。还表征了用于操纵原子和控制干涉仪相位的磁场的影响。

图形摘要