arXiv subjects

Dan-Fang Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Dan-Fang Zhang.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Amplitude Modulation Noise Suppression of Dynamic Atom Gravimeters

Dynamic atom gravimeters enable absolute gravity measurements on moving platforms. However, their performance is severely degraded due to the complex dynamic environment. This paper finds that the amplitude modulation noise (AMN) is a key factor contributing to the degradation of gravity measurement performance. We find that the AMN is induced by the cold atomic cloud trajectory and velocity variation. We build a model to illustrate the principles and magnitude of AMN arising from various experiment processes. Then we propose a method to fit the normalized AMN respect to the kinematic parameters of the cold atomic cloud, and successfully suppress this noise from 0.11 to 0.038 using the fitting result. With this method, we improve the fringe phase resolution from 0.244 rad to 0.092 rad, and reduce the dynamic gravity measurement noise from 2.69 mGal to 1.68 mGal. This study finds and suppresses a key noise source for the dynamic atom gravimeters, which is important for further improving its precision. The proposed method can be also applied for precision enhancement for other dynamic atom interferometer-based sensors, such as the atom gradiometers and gyroscopes.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2026

In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry

The Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) is a central pillar of general relativity. Its precise test with quantum systems in space offers a unique window onto new physics. Here we report the first in-orbit quantum test of the WEP. A dual-species (85Rb/87Rb) atom interferometer is realized aboard the China Space Station. Methods of platform motion suppression, fluorescence detection switching, and two-photon detuning switching are developed to eliminate phase noise and improve measurement accuracy. A test uncertainty of 2.8*10-8 is obtained from 280 days of WEP test data, and a test result of (-3.1+/-4.6)*10-7 is achieved after error estimation. This improves prior atom-interferometric WEP tests in microgravity by three orders of magnitude. This work paves the way for space-borne quantum inertial sensors and their application to future fundamental physics in space.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Analysis of the Dick Effect for AI-based Dynamic Gravimeter

Atom interferometer (AI)-based dynamic gravimeter enable high-precision absolute gravity measurements, crucial for applications in geophysics, navigation, resource exploration, and metrology. Understanding their underlying mechanisms and minimizing measurement noise are essential for enhancing performance. This work investigates the gravity measurement noise in AI-based systems induced by the dead time of the classical accelerometer. Using actual dynamic gravity measurement data, we demonstrate that a dead time of 0.12 s introduces significant gravity measurement noise of 8 mGal. To elucidate the mechanism of this noise, we derive a formula for this noise in frequency domain, identifying high-frequency aliasing as its source. Analysis of the derived expressions indicates that reducing the dead time duration and suppressing the high-frequency noise of the acceleration are effective strategies for mitigating this noise. This work provides significant insights for noise analysis and future scheme design of AI-based dynamic gravimeters.

physics.atom-ph↗