Transcript Fundamental Physics With Clocks and Atom Interferometry in Space

Fundamental Physics With Clocks and
Atom Interferometry in Space
(AMOP)
Nan Yu, JPL
Fundamental Physics Research in Space Workshop
Airlie, July 6th, 2008
A statement from William D. Phillips
Recent advances in AMO physics like laser cooling, quantum
degenerate atomic gases, optical frequency combs, optical frequency
standards, and the like, have revolutionized a number of areas of
fundamental research and have provided new measurement tools with
QuickTi me™ a nd a
TIFF (Uncompre ssed ) decomp resso r
are need ed to se e th is p icture.
unprecedented accuracy. Some of these new research areas and
measurement tools may find important new applications and
opportunities. Whether such possibilities ever come to fruition
depends very much on policy decisions. Such decisions need to be
informed by the best possible information from the scientific
community. It is important that AMO community contributes its
perspective to this discussion.
This can
ideas for
new experiments
space, analyses
Whether
orinclude
not such
input
from ourin community
of what spaceborne experiments would offer significant improvements over what can be done
results
in newonfunding
for
in earthbound experiments,
or perspectives
the relativeopportunities
significance of particular
experiments to the development
of our scientific
Whetherresearch,
or not such input
ground-based
andknowledge.
space-based
it isfrom
our community results in new funding opportunities for ground-based and space-based
we insights,
provide
whatever
research, it is importantimportant
that we providethat
whatever
ideas,
information,insights,
and
perspectives that we can,
so that policy
decisions areand
as well-informed
as possible,
ideas,
information,
perspectives
thatand
weso that
the AMO community viewpoint is heard.
can, so that policy decisions are as wellWilliam D. Phillips
informed as possible, and so that the AMO
Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
community viewpoint is heard.
June 2008
AMO Physics in Space
Fundamental Physics through precision
measurements
• Gravity and quantum mechanics
(EEP, inverse square law, ppn parameters,
spin gravity coupling, quantum
decoherence)
• Beyond Standard Model of physics
Fundamental
Physics
FunPhys
(Physics of Cosmos)
in Space through
AMO physics and
precision
measurements
(EDM, LPI, alpha-dot, isotropy of c,
inverse square law)
• Dark matter/energy
(EEP, Newton’s law violation)
Space
Examples of unique
space environment:
 micro gravity
 Low vibration/low EMI
 Large spatial extend
 Large gravitational field variation
 Free from atmospheric interferences
 Inertial frame
....
Technology
Technology Advances
• Microwave frequency oscillators,
standards, and clocks
• Optical frequency standards and clocks
• Dimensional clocks
• Laser trapping and cooling of atoms
• Atom-wave interferometers
• Quantum gases
Mission Concepts/Ideas in AMO
Technology areas
Atomic frequency standards and clocks
Dimensional oscillators
Atom-wave interferometry
Quantum gases
Other precision measurements with cold atoms and molecules
….
• Tests of Einstain’s relativity theories
(PARCS, RACE, PHARAO/ACES, HYPER, OPTIS, EGE, SAGAS, speed of light)
• Planck scale physics (SpaceTime, BEC, optical clocks, alpha-dot….)
• Equivalence Principle (QuITE, SpaceTime, HYPER, alpha-dot, ….)
• Cosmology and quantum decoherence (CLASS, HYPER, quantum degenarate gas,
BEC, atom interferometers, entangled photons,….)
• Fundamental symmetry (EDM, ….)
• Gravity (Inverse square law, SAGAS, ….)
• GW (Atom interferometers)
• Clocks and accelerometers in support of other missions
• ….
Input to Roadmap and Decadal Survey
Recent progress in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (AMOP) has led to the
development of a new generation of instruments such as high performance clocks and
atom-wave interferometry. These unique technologies ushered in a new era of precision
measurements that has never been possible before. Combined with access to the large
distance and gravity variations as well as the quiescent environment of space, the resulting
new capabilities for testing the foundations of modern physics have placed fundamental
physics in a unique position to address some of the pivotal questions of modern science.
For example, with the new generation of clocks in space, Lorentz invariance tests can be
improved by orders of magnitudes. Variation of fundamental constants can be tested with
cosmological consequences. Atom interferometry can be used for testing Einstein’s
Equivalence Principle with quantum test masses thereby reaching new limits not possible
on ground. Indeed, through the precision measurements at the very smallest scale of
elementary particles such as quarks and other constituents of atoms, the fundamental laws
of physics that governs the universe as a whole can be tested with important implications
in cosmology, astronomy, and astrophysics.
Ref. [1].
S.G. Turyshev, U.E. Israelsson, M. Shao, N. Yu, A. Kusenko, E.L. Wright,
C.W. F. Everitt, M. Kasevich, J.A. Lipa, J.C. Mester, R.D. Reasenberg, R.L. Walsworth,
N.Ashby, H.Gould, H.J. Paik, “Space-based research in fundamental physics and
quantum technologies,” Int. J. Mod. Phys. D16(12a), 1879-1925 (2007),
arXiv:0711.0150 [gr-qc]