Atom Interferometer Measurement of the Newtonian Constant of Gravity

We measured the Newtonian constant of gravity, G, using a gravity gradiometer based on atom interferometry. The gradiometer measures the differential acceleration of two samples of laser-cooled Cs atoms. The change in gravitational field along one dimension is measured when a well-characterized Pb m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 315; no. 5808; pp. 74 - 77
Main Authors:	Fixler, J.B, Foster, G.T, McGuirk, J.M, Kasevich, M.A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 05-01-2007 The American Association for the Advancement of Science
Subjects:	Astronomy Astrophysics Atoms Average linear density Determination of fundamental constants Earth, ocean, space Exact sciences and technology Fringe Fundamental aspects of astrophysics Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics. Instrumentation, techniques, and astronomical observations Gradiometers Gravimeters Gravity Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy Interferometers Magnetic fields Mass Measurement Metrology Metrology, measurements and laboratory procedures Optical instruments, equipment and techniques Phase shift Physics Relativity and gravitation Scientific apparatus & instruments Trajectories Atom interferometry Gravitational fields Errors Gravitational constant Measurement technique
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Summary:	We measured the Newtonian constant of gravity, G, using a gravity gradiometer based on atom interferometry. The gradiometer measures the differential acceleration of two samples of laser-cooled Cs atoms. The change in gravitational field along one dimension is measured when a well-characterized Pb mass is displaced. Here, we report a value of G = 6.693 x 10⁻¹¹ cubic meters per kilogram second squared, with a standard error of the mean of ±0.027 x 10⁻¹¹ and a systematic error of ±0.021 x 10⁻¹¹ cubic meters per kilogram second squared. The possibility that unknown systematic errors still exist in traditional measurements makes it important to measure G with independent methods.
Bibliography:	http://www.scienceonline.org/ ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1
ISSN:	0036-8075 1095-9203
DOI:	10.1126/science.1135459