A Terrestrial Search for Dark Contents of the Vacuum, Such as Dark Energy, Using Atom Interferometry
Description/Abstract
We describe the theory and first experimental work on our concept for searching on earth for the presence of dark contents of the vacuum (DCV) using atom interferometry. Specifically, we have in mind any DCV that has not yet been detected on a laboratory scale, but which might manifest itself as dark energy on the cosmological scale. The experimental method uses two atom interferometers to cancel the effect of earth's gravity and diverse noise sources. It depends upon two assumptions: first, that the DCV possesses some space inhomogeneity in density, and second that it exerts a sufficiently strong nongravitational force on matter. The motion of the apparatus through the DCV should then lead to an irregular variation in the detected matter-wave phase shift. We discuss the nature of this signal and note the problem of distinguishing it from instrumental noise. We also discuss the relation of our experiment to what might be learned by studying the noise in gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO. The paper concludes with a projection that a future search of this nature might be carried out using an atom interferometer in an orbiting satellite. The laboratory apparatus is now being constructed.
| Creator/Author: | Adler, Ronald J. ; /Stanford U., HEPL /San Francisco State U. ; Muller, Holger ; /UC, Berkeley ; Perl, Martin L. ; /KIPAC, Menlo Park /SLAC |
|---|---|
| Publication Date: | 2012 Jun 11 |
| OSTI Identifier: | OSTI ID: 1043223 |
| Report Number(s): | SLAC-PUB-15075 |
| DOE Contract Number: | AC02-76SF00515 |
| Other Number(s): | Journal ID: ISSN 0217-751X; Other: arXiv:1101.5626; TRN: US201213%%159 |
| Resource Type: | Journal Article |
| Resource Relation: | Journal Name: International Journal of Modern Physics A; Journal Volume: 26; Journal Issue: 29 |
| Research Org: | SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) |
| Sponsoring Org: | US DOE Office of Science (DOE SC) |
| Subject: | 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ATOMS; GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTORS; INTERFEROMETERS; INTERFEROMETRY; NONLUMINOUS MATTER; PHASE SHIFT |
| Related Subject: | Astrophysics,ASTRO |
| Country of Publication: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Availability: | http://www.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/pubpage?slac-pub-15075.html |
| Update Date: | 2012 Dec 05 |
Full Text
? K
View Full Text
or Access Individual Pages
search, view and/or download individual pages
Cite
Select a citation type to copy/paste or download the reference.
