Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project
Abstract
We summarise the scientific and technological aspects of the SAGAS (Search for Anomalous Gravitation using Atomic Sensors) project, submitted to ESA in June 2007 in response to the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 call for proposals. The proposed mission aims at flying highly sensitive atomic sensors (optical clock, cold atom accelerometer, optical link) on a Solar System escape trajectory in the 2020 to 2030 time-frame. SAGAS has numerous science objectives in fundamental physics and Solar System science, for example numerous tests of general relativity and the exploration of the Kuiper belt. The combination of highly sensitive atomic sensors and of the laser link well adapted for large distances will allow measurements with unprecedented accuracy and on scales never reached before. We present the proposed mission in some detail, with particular emphasis on the science goals and associated measurements.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0711.0304,
title = {Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project},
author = {P. Wolf and Ch. J. Bordé and A. Clairon and L. Duchayne and A. Landragin and P. Lemonde and G. Santarelli and W. Ertmer and E. Rasel and F. S. Cataliotti and M. Inguscio and G. M. Tino and P. Gill and H. Klein and S. Reynaud and C. Salomon and E. Peik and O. Bertolami and P. Gil and J. Páramos and C. Jentsch and U. Johann and A. Rathke and P. Bouyer and L. Cacciapuoti and D. Izzo and P. De Natale and B. Christophe and P. Touboul and S. G. Turyshev and J. D. Anderson and M. E. Tobar and F. Schmidt-Kaler and J. Vigué and A. Madej and L. Marmet and M-C. Angonin and P. Delva and P. Tourrenc and G. Metris and H. Müller and R. Walsworth and Z. H. Lu and L. Wang and K. Bongs and A. Toncelli and M. Tonelli and H. Dittus and C. Lämmerzahl and G. Galzerano and P. Laporta and J. Laskar and A. Fienga and F. Roques and K. Sengstock},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0711.0304},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
39 pages. Submitted in abridged version to Experimental Astronomy