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.

该项目的目标是在前所未有的水平上测试广义相对论的弱等效原理（WEP）和引力平方反比定律（ISL）。WEP 将在毫米尺度上进行测试，ISL 将在亚尺度上进行探测。毫米距离，具有前所未有的灵敏度。自 1999 年以来，实验限制已得到显着改善，因此 ISL 已被证明在小至毫米的距离内有效。然而，尚未对 WEP 进行毫米级以下的专门测试。该奖项的初步工作将在毫米级及以下范围内探测 WEP。该测量将通过新型平行板完成。扭摆设计将提供基本无效的实验并使用多种组合偶极子组合，随后，将通过将摆/吸引子质量分离降低到 100 来进行更困难的引力 ISL 测试。这种配置将探测 ISL 的距离约为 20 微米。近年来，短距离（亚毫米）尺度的引力相互作用研究引起了广泛关注，这在很大程度上是由于弦或弦中出现的统一场景。 M 理论需要三个以上的空间维度，其中一些可能是宏观的引力的短程测试，WEP 还研究了可能提出的机制，试图解释宇宙的加速膨胀，通常归因于暗能量。最后，此类测试提供了寻找由于外来粒子或其他现象而产生的假设新相互作用的可能性。许多与这些效应相关的预测表明，该项目将在洪堡的引力物理实验室中进行。州立大学是洪堡州立大学物理学本科生可以获得实践研究经验的唯一场所，该奖项为实验室、本科生津贴、设备改进以及包括学生在内的成果传播提供持续支持。与华盛顿大学 Eöt-Wash 小组的合作将加快加工项目，并让洪堡州立大学的一名本科生在夏季期间作为本科生研究助理获得宝贵的经验。为数据采集和分析而开发的产品将可转移到高年级课堂的教育机会。