Toward a dual-species atom interferometer with cadmium and strontium

Abstract

We report on the progress toward a dual-species cadmium and strontium atom interferometer for fundamental physics tests. We have developed and characterized a complete baseline laser system for cadmium, which provides the high power and narrow linewidth necessary for laser cooling and trapping and for performing atom interferometry, with upgraded systems for strontium also implemented. An overview of a design for cooling cadmium is presented, and we outline the basic design of a Cd–Sr atomic fountain, discussing atom launching techniques and the possible role of blackbody radiation. The excellent properties of cadmium and strontium, both individually and as a test pair, are discussed along with the enabled fundamental physics program of tests of the weak equivalence principle and the measurement of relativistic time dilation effects in quantum superpositions of clocks.