Data from: In-orbit test of the weak equivalence principle with atom interferometry
Data files
Jul 16, 2026 version files 1.65 MB
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data_for_aeh0529.zip
1.64 MB
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README.md
6.49 KB
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.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.4xgxd25rg
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset: data_for_aeh0529.zip contains the raw experimental data underlying the figures in the main text (Figures 2, 3, 4, and 6) and in the supplementary materials (Figures S1, S3, S4, and S6) of the article entitled “In‑orbit Test of the Weak Equivalence Principle with Atom Interferometry”. The data are presented as plain‑text ASCII files, each corresponding to a specific figure panel. File headers provide column labels and units; numerical data follow in subsequent lines. For a full description of the experimental setup, procedures, and data processing, please refer to the main article and its supplementary materials.
Files and variables
File: data_for_Fig2a.dat
Description: Principal component analysis (PCA) of 2D fluorescence images for ⁸⁷Rb, showing the shearing fringe pattern (as in Fig. 2a).
Variables:
- Pixel coordinate x (mm)
- Pixel coordinate y (mm)
- PCA amplitude (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig2b.dat
Description: PCA of 2D fluorescence images for ⁸⁵Rb, showing the shearing fringe pattern (as in Fig. 2b).
Variables:
- Pixel coordinate x (mm)
- Pixel coordinate y (mm)
- PCA amplitude (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig2c.txt
Description: 1D interference fringe for ⁸⁷Rb, obtained by averaging the 2D image along x‑direction and normalizing (as in Fig. 2c).
Variables:
- Position along y (mm)
- Normalized fluorescence intensity (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig2d.txt
Description: 1D interference fringe for ⁸⁵Rb (as in Fig. 2d) .
Variables: Same as above.
- Position along y (mm)
- Normalized fluorescence intensity (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig2ef.txt
Description: Time series of the measured interference phase for ⁸⁷Rb (φ_Rb87) and the differential phase Δφ = φ_Rb85 – φ_Rb87, as shown in Fig. 2e and the histograms in Fig. 2f.
Variables:
Fig. 2e
- Experiment index
- φ_Rb87 (rad)
- Δφ (rad)
Fig. 2f
- Phase bin center (rad)
- Counts for φ_Rb87 (rad)
- Counts for Δφ (rad)
File: data_for_Fig2g.txt
Description: Histogram of the acceleration‑induced interference phase, calculated from classical accelerometer data via the sensitivity function (as in Fig. 2g ).
Variables:
- Phase bin center (rad)
- Counts (number of occurrences)
File: data_for_Fig3b.txt
Description: Calculated differential phases Δφ₁, Δφ₂ and their average Δφ_avg as a function of the fitting‑position offset y₀ (as in Fig. 3b).
Variables:
- y₀ (mm)
- Δφ₁ (rad)
- Δφ₂ (rad)
- Δφ_avg (rad)
File: data_for_Fig3d.txt
Description: Simulated residual phase φ_res as a function of initial velocity v_z0 for δ_tp > 0 and δ_tp < 0, and their average (as in Fig. 3d).
Variables:
- v_z0 (mm/s)
- φ_res for δ_tp > 0 (rad)
- φ_res for δ_tp < 0 (rad)
- Average φ_res (rad)
File: data_for_Fig4a.txt
Description: Long‑term averaged differential phases for the four experimental configurations and their overall average (as in Fig. 4a).
Variables:
- Date (days since 2024‑08‑27)
- Averaged phase for each configuration (four columns, rad)
- Overall average phase (rad)
File: data_for_Fig4b.txt
Description: Allan deviation of the averaged differential phase as a function of averaging time (as in Fig. 4b) .
Variables:
- Averaging time (days)
- Allan deviation (rad)
File: data_for_Fig6a.txt
Description: Simulated 2D interference fringe for the |a⟩ end state (as in Fig. 6a).
Variables:
- y‑coordinate (mm)
- z‑coordinate (mm)
- Population (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig6b.txt
Description: Simulated 2D interference fringe for the |b⟩ end state (as in Fig. 6b).
Variables:
- y‑coordinate (mm)
- z‑coordinate (mm)
- Population (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig6c.txt
Description: 1D spatial fringe obtained by integrating the |a⟩ 2D population along z (as in Fig. 6c).
Variables:
- y‑coordinate (mm)
- Integrated population (arb. units)
File: data_for_Fig6d.txt
Description: 1D spatial fringe obtained by integrating the |b⟩ 2D population along z (as in Fig. 6d).
Variables:
- y‑coordinate (mm)
- Integrated population (arb. units)
File: data_for_Figs1a.txt
Description: Recorded residual acceleration a_z during one experimental round (as in Fig. S1a).
Variables:
- Time (s)
- a_z (m/s²)
File: data_for_Figs1b.txt
Description: Acceleration‑induced interference phase φ calculated from the sensitivity function (as in Fig. S1b).
Variables:
- Time (s)
- φ (rad)
File: data_for_Figs3a.txt
Description: Phase distribution of simulated interference fringes showing skewness (as in Fig. S3a).
Variables:
- Fitted phase bin (rad)
- Counts
File: data_for_Figs3b.txt
Description: Differential phase distribution for experimental configuration 1 (⁸⁵Rb before ⁸⁷Rb, δ_tp > 0) (as in Fig. S3b).
Variables:
- Δφ bin (rad)
- Counts
File: data_for_Figs3c.txt
Description: Differential phase distribution for configuration 2 (⁸⁷Rb before ⁸⁵Rb, δ_tp > 0) (as in Fig. S3c).
Variables:
- Δφ bin (rad)
- Counts
File: data_for_Figs3d.txt
Description: Differential phase distribution for configuration 3 (⁸⁵Rb before ⁸⁷Rb, δ_tp < 0) (as in Fig. S3d).
Variables:
- Δφ bin (rad)
- Counts
File: data_for_Figs3e.txt
Description: Differential phase distribution for configuration 4 (⁸⁷Rb before ⁸⁵Rb, δ_tp < 0) (as in Fig. S3e).
Variables:
- Δφ bin (rad)
- Counts
File: data_for_Figs4c.txt
Description: Calculated relationship between fringe‑center difference Δy and imposed translational offset y_fri (as in Fig. S4c).
Variables:
- y_fri (mm)
- Δy (mm)
File: data_for_Figs4e.txt
Description: Relationship between tilt angle θ_y and Δy for rotational misalignment (as in Fig. S4e).
Variables:
- θ_y (rad)
- Δy (mm)
File: data_for_Figs6c.txt
Description: Measured differential phase Δφ as a function of applied image rotation angle θ_rot (as in Fig. S6c).
Variables:
- θ_rot (rad)
- Δφ (rad)
Code/software
All files are plain ASCII text.