STE-QUEST -- Space Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence principle Space Test: The 2022 medium-class mission concept

Naceur Gaaloul; Holger Ahlers; Leonardo Badurina; Angelo Bassi; Baptiste Battelier; Quentin Beaufils; Kai Bongs; Philippe Bouyer; Claus Braxmaier; Oliver Buchmueller; Matteo Carlesso; Eric Charron; Maria Luisa Chiofalo; Robin Corgier; Sandro Donadi; Fabien Droz; John Ellis; Frédéric Estève; Enno Giese; Jens Grosse; Aurélien Hees; Thomas A. Hensel; Waldemar Herr; Philippe Jetzer; Gina Kleinsteinberg; Carsten Klempt; Steve Lecomte; Louise Lopes; Sina Loriani; Victor Martín; Gilles Métris; Gabriel Müller; Miquel Nofrarias; Franck Pereira Dos Santos; Ernst M. Rasel; Mike Salter; Dennis Schlippert; Christian Schubert; Thilo Schuldt; Carlos F. Sopuerta; Christian Struckmann; Guglielmo M. Tino; Tristan Valenzuela; Wolf von Klitzing; Lisa Wörner; Nan Yu; Martin Zelan; Peter Wolf

arXiv · 2211.15412

STE-QUEST -- Space Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence principle Space Test: The 2022 medium-class mission concept

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Abstract

Space-borne quantum technologies, particularly those based on atom interferometry, are heralding a new era of strategic and robust space exploration. The unique conditions of space, characterized by low noise and low gravity environments, open up diverse possibilities for applications ranging from precise time and frequency transfer to Earth Observation and the search of new Physics. In this paper, we summarise the M-class mission proposal in response to the 2022 call in ESA's science program: Space-Time Explorer and Quantum Equivalence Principle Space Test (STE-QUEST). It consists in a satellite mission featuring a dual-species atom interferometer operating over extended durations. This mission aims to tackle three of the most fundamental questions in Physics: (i) testing the universality of free fall with an accuracy better than one part in $10^{-17}$, (ii) exploring various forms of Ultra-Light Dark Matter, and (iii) scrutinizing the foundations of Quantum Mechanics.

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Naceur Gaaloul, Holger Ahlers, Leonardo Badurina, Angelo Bassi, Baptiste Battelier, Quentin Beaufils, Kai Bongs, Philippe Bouyer, Claus Braxmaier, Oliver Buchmueller, Matteo Carlesso, Eric Charron, Maria Luisa Chiofalo, Robin Corgier, Sandro Donadi, Fabien Droz, John Ellis, Frédéric Estève, Enno Giese, Jens Grosse, Aurélien Hees, Thomas A. Hensel, Waldemar Herr, Philippe Jetzer, Gina Kleinsteinberg, Carsten Klempt, Steve Lecomte, Louise Lopes, Sina Loriani, Victor Martín, Gilles Métris, Gabriel Müller, Miquel Nofrarias, Franck Pereira Dos Santos, Ernst M. Rasel, Mike Salter, Dennis Schlippert, Christian Schubert, Thilo Schuldt, Carlos F. Sopuerta, Christian Struckmann, Guglielmo M. Tino, Tristan Valenzuela, Wolf von Klitzing, Lisa Wörner, Nan Yu, Martin Zelan, Peter Wolf. 2022-11-28. STE-QUEST -- Space Time Explorer and QUantum Equivalence principle Space Test: The 2022 medium-class mission concept. https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.15412

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