Ultracold atoms measure gravity with surprising precision

Extremely chilly atoms have been used to measure gravity extra exactly than we thought potential, beating a restrict that stems from quantum weirdness.

Ultracold atoms are a number of the most delicate power sensors. They are helpful for such work as a result of on the coldest potential temperature – absolute zero – they tackle quantum properties which can be extraordinarily prone to pushes and pulls of their surroundings. But that sensitivity could be muddled by the small fluctuations, or “quantum noise”, within the atoms’ states.