Erlangen 2022 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 29: Ultra-cold atoms, ions and BEC (joint session A/Q)
A 29.16: Poster
Thursday, March 17, 2022, 16:30–18:30, P
Towards dark energy search using atom interferometry in microgravity — •Magdalena Misslisch1, Holger Ahlers2, Maike Lachmann1, and Ernst Rasel1 — 1Institute of Quantum Optics, Hanover, Germany — 2Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) Institut für Satellitengeodäsie und Inertialsensorik, Hanover, Germany
Dark energy is estimated to represent around 70 % of the universe energy budget, yet its nature remains unknown. A possible solution for this problem is the proposed scalar chameleon field whose effects are hidden from usual high density probe particles due to a screening effect.
The project DESIRE (Dark energy search by atom interferometry in the Einstein-Elevator) aims to detect chameleon dark energy by atom interferometry in microgravity. In this experiment multi-loop interferometry with Rb-87 Bose-Einstein condensates will be performed to search for phase contributions induced by chameleon scalar fields shaped by a changing mass density in their vicinity [1]. Atoms traverse a periodic test mass designed in cooperation with the JPL while accumulating the signal within a multi-loop interferometer over several seconds. To reach these long interaction times the experiment will be performed in microgravity in the Einstein-Elevator, an active drop tower in Hanover.
[1] Sheng-wey Chiow und Nan Yu. "Multiloop atom interferometer measurements of chameleon dark energy in microgravity" doi: 10.1103/PhysRevD.97.044043, 2018