The Holometer: An Instrument to Probe Planckian Quantum Geometry
This paper describes the Fermilab Holometer, an instrument for measuring correlations of position variations over a four-dimensional volume of space-time. The apparatus consists of two co-located, but independent and isolated, 40 m power-recycled Michelson interferometers, whose outputs are cross-correlated to 25 MHz. The data are sensitive to correlations of differential position across the apparatus over a broad band of frequencies up to and exceeding the inverse light crossing time, 7.6 MHz. A noise model constrained by diagnostic and environmental data distinguishes among physical origins of measured correlations, and is used to verify shot-noise-limited performance. These features allow searches for exotic quantum correlations that depart from classical trajectories at spacelike separations, with a strain noise power spectral density sensitivity smaller than the Planck time. The Holometer in current and future configurations is projected to provide precision tests of a wide class of models of quantum geometry at the Planck scale, beyond those already constrained by currently operating gravitational wave observatories.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan U.; MIT; Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Caltech; KAIST, Taejon; Chicago U.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359
- OSTI ID:
- 1350516
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-PUB-16-528; oai:inspirehep.net:1500264; arXiv:1611.08265
- Journal Information:
- Class.Quant.Grav., Journal Name: Class.Quant.Grav. Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 34
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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