Atom interferometers and optical clocks with ultracold atoms: New quantum sensors for gravitational physics and applications in Earth laboratories and in space.

ABSTRACT:

	Cooling and trapping of neutral atoms has been one of the most active fields of research in physics in recent years. Several methods were demonstrated to reach temperatures as low as a few nanokelvin allowing, for example, the investigation of quantum degenerate gases.

       The ability to control the quantum degrees of freedom of atoms opens the way to applications for precision measurement of  fundamental physical quantities.

       Experiments we are performing using atom interferometry to determine the gravitational constant G and test the Newtonian gravitational law at micrometric distances will be presented. Other experiments in progress, planned or being considered using atom interferometers and new atomic clocks in ground laboratories and in space will also be discussed.