Title of Paper: The quantum gravity gradiometer for sub-surface mapping from space

Principal Author: Dr. Lute Maleki

Abstract: We will describe a gravity gradiometer instrument based on matter wave interferometry. This instrument utilizes laser cooled cesium atoms, combined with a special sequence of laser pulses, to realize an accelerometer. Two such accelerometers separated by a distance comprise the gradiometer. The sequence of laser pulses serve to split the cesium matter wave, and subesequently recombine it. The atomic de Broglie wave takes two different paths depending on the momentum imparted by the photons. This instrument has the potential of extremely high sensitivty, and when implemented in space, can yield the full gravity tensor.