Constraining the generalized uncertainty principle with the atomic weak-equivalence-principle test

Abstract

Various models of quantum gravity imply the Planck-scale modifications of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle into a so-called generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). The GUP effects on high-energy physics, cosmology, and astrophysics have been extensively studied. Here, we focus on the weak-equivalence-principle (WEP) violation induced by the GUP. Results from the WEP test with the $^{85}$Rb-$^{87}$Rb dual-species atom interferometer are used to set upper bounds on parameters in two GUP proposals. A $10^{45}$-level bound on the Kempf-Mangano-Mann proposal, and a $10^{27}$-level bound on Maggiore's proposal, which are consistent with bounds from other experiments, are obtained. All these bounds have huge room for improvement in the future.