Quantum Technologies in Space to Determine the Gravitational Aharonov-Bohm Effect

Recently we showed that quantum systems in orbit around a massive body may be compared to ground clocks to test the gravitational Aharonov-Bohm effect. To be sensitive, orbits must have non-zero eccentricity, so geometric phase effects related to the time varying gravitation potential will be present. Since the quantum system will be in free-fall, by the equivalence principle, the quantum system is locally screened from the gravitational field. However, the time varying gravitational potential will change the energy levels of the quantum system and develop side bands, which are harmonics of the orbit frequency and is the signature of the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect. Experiments that have the potential to measure such geometric phases include atomic clocks in space, such as the ACES mission, as well as other missions that propose optical clocks in space. Also, worth investigating is the possible use of data from Galileo clocks with non-zero eccentricity.