Constraining chameleon field theories using the GammeV afterglow experiments

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Phys.Rev.D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.81.015013· OSTI ID:3019605

Upadhye, A. ^[1]; Steffen, J. H. ^[2]; Weltman, A. ^[3]

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1. Chicago U., EFI; Chicago U., KICP
2. Fermilab
3. Cambridge U., DAMTP; Cape Town U.

The GammeV experiment has constrained the couplings of chameleon scalar fields to matter and photons. Here we present a detailed calculation of the chameleon afterglow rate underlying these constraints. The dependence of GammeV constraints on various assumptions in the calculation is studied. We discuss GammeV--CHASE, a second-generation GammeV experiment, which will improve upon GammeV in several major ways. Using our calculation of the chameleon afterglow rate, we forecast model-independent constraints achievable by GammeV--CHASE. We then apply these constraints to a variety of chameleon models, including quartic chameleons and chameleon dark energy models. The new experiment will be able to probe a large region of parameter space that is beyond the reach of current tests, such as fifth force searches, constraints on the dimming of distant astrophysical objects, and bounds on the variation of the fine structure constant.

• Research Organization: Cambridge U., DAMTP; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Cape Town U.; Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., EFI
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 3019605
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB-09-584-AE; oai:inspirehep.net:837407; arXiv:0911.3906
• Journal Information: Phys.Rev.D, Journal Name: Phys.Rev.D Vol. 81
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English