Paper
In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry
Authors
Dan-Fang Zhang, Jing-Ting Li, Wen-Zhang Wang, Wei-Hao Xu, Jia-Yi Wei, Xiao Li, Yi-Bo Wang, Dong-Feng Gao, Jia-Qi Zhong, Biao Tang, Lin Zhou, Run-Bing Li, Huan-Yao Sun, Qun-Feng Chen, Lei Qin, Mei-zhen An, Zong-Feng Li, Shu-Quan Wang, Xiao-Xiao Guo, Yao Tian, Xi-He Yu, Hong-En Zhong, Xi Chen, Jin Wang, Ming-Sheng Zhan
Abstract
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.
Metadata
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Raw Data (Debug)
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"raw_xml": "<entry>\n <id>http://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22981v1</id>\n <title>In-orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry</title>\n <updated>2026-03-24T09:18:29Z</updated>\n <link href='https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.22981v1' rel='alternate' type='text/html'/>\n <link href='https://arxiv.org/pdf/2603.22981v1' rel='related' title='pdf' type='application/pdf'/>\n <summary>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.</summary>\n <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='physics.atom-ph'/>\n <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='gr-qc'/>\n <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='physics.app-ph'/>\n <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='physics.space-ph'/>\n <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='quant-ph'/>\n <published>2026-03-24T09:18:29Z</published>\n <arxiv:comment>22 pages,6 figures</arxiv:comment>\n <arxiv:primary_category term='physics.atom-ph'/>\n <author>\n <name>Dan-Fang Zhang</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Jing-Ting Li</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Wen-Zhang Wang</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Wei-Hao Xu</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Jia-Yi Wei</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Xiao Li</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Yi-Bo Wang</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Dong-Feng Gao</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Jia-Qi Zhong</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Biao Tang</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Lin Zhou</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Run-Bing Li</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Huan-Yao Sun</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Qun-Feng Chen</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Lei Qin</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Mei-zhen An</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Zong-Feng Li</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Shu-Quan Wang</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Xiao-Xiao Guo</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Yao Tian</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Xi-He Yu</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Hong-En Zhong</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Xi Chen</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Jin Wang</name>\n </author>\n <author>\n <name>Ming-Sheng Zhan</name>\n </author>\n </entry>"
}