RUI: Parallel-Plate Torsion Pendulum for Investigations of Short-range Gravitational Physics

RUI：用于短程引力物理研究的平行板扭摆

基本信息

批准号：
1065697
负责人：
Charles Hoyle
金额：
$ 11.72万
依托单位：
Humboldt State University Foundation
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2011
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2011-08-01 至 2014-07-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1065697&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
RUI Parallel Plate Torsion Pendulum

项目摘要

The goal of this project is to test the Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) of General Relativity and the gravitational inverse-square law (ISL) at unprecedented levels. The WEP will be tested at the millimeter scale and the ISL will be probed over sub-millimeter distances with unprecedented sensitivity. Both tests will use a novel parallel-plate torsion pendulum design. Since 1999, experimental limits have improved dramatically so that the ISL has proven valid over distances down to approximately 55 micrometers. A dedicated test of the WEP, however, has not been performed below the millimeter scale. The initial work under this award will probe the WEP at the millimeter scale and below. This measurement will be accomplished with a novel parallel-plate torsion pendulum design that will provide an essentially null experiment and use multiple composition dipole combinations. Subsequently, a more difficult test of the gravitational ISL will be pursued by decreasing the pendulum/attractor mass separation to 100 micrometers. This configuration will probe the ISL down to distances of approximately 20 micrometers.In recent years the study of the gravitational interaction at short (sub-millimeter) distance scales has gained much attention due in a large part to unification scenarios arising in string or M-theory that require more than three spatial dimensions, some of which could be macroscopic. Short-range tests of gravity and the WEP also investigate possible proposed mechanisms that endeavor to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe, generally attributed to Dark Energy. Finally, such tests present the possibility to search for hypothetical new interactions due to exotic particles or other phenomena. Many scenarios concerning these effects predict a violation of the WEP or gravitational ISL at short distances. The project will be performed in the Gravitational Physics Laboratory at Humboldt State University, the only arena in which undergraduate physics students at Humboldt State University may obtain hands-on research experience. This award provides continued support for the laboratory, undergraduate stipends, equipment improvements, and support for dissemination of results including student presentations. Collaboration with the University of Washington Eöt-Wash group will expedite machining projects as well as allow one undergraduate per year from Humboldt State to gain valuable experience working with the group as an undergraduate research assistant during the summer months. In addition, software tools developed for data acquisition and analysis will be transferrable to educational opportunities in the upper division classroom.

该项目的目的是在前所未有的水平上测试一般相对论的弱等效原理（WEP）和重力逆方法律（ISL）。 WEP将以毫米尺度进行测试，ISL将以前所未有的灵敏度在亚毫米距离上进行探测。两种测试都将使用新型的平行板扭转摆设计。自1999年以来，实验极限已大大改善，因此ISL已证明在距离上有效至约55微米。但是，对WEP的专门测试尚未在毫米范围以下进行。该奖项下的最初工作将以毫米及以下探测WEP。该测量将通过一种新型的平行板扭转摆设计来完成，该设计将提供基本无效的实验并使用多个组成偶极组合。随后，通过将摆/吸引子质量分离降低到100微米，将对重力ISL进行更困难的测试。这种配置将使ISL降低到大约20微米的距离。近年来，在很大程度上，在很大程度上，在很大程度上，在很大程度上引起了统一场景或M理论，该研究在很大程度上引起了很多关注，这在字符串或M理论中所需要的三个空间尺寸超过三个，其中一些可能是巨大的。重力和WEP的短距离测试还调查了可能提出的机制，这些机制努力解释了宇宙的加速膨胀，通常归因于暗能量。最后，这样的测试提出了由于外来颗粒或其他现象而引起的假设新相互作用的可能性。这些效果涉及许多方案，预测在短距离内违反了WEP或重力ISL。该项目将在洪堡州立大学的引力物理实验室中进行，洪堡州立大学本科生的唯一竞技场可以获得动手研究经验。该奖项为实验室，本科压力，设备改进以及为包括学生演讲在内的结果传播提供了持续的支持。与华盛顿大学埃特 - 瓦什集团的合作将加速加工项目，并允许洪堡州立大学每年一名本科生，以在夏季作为本科研究助理，获得与该小组合作的宝贵经验。此外，开发用于数据获取和分析的软件工具将被转移到上层课堂的教育机会。