Probing Fundamental Physics with Gravitational Experiments

用引力实验探索基础物理

• 批准号: 2309195
• 负责人: Jens Gundlach
• 金额: $ 105万
• 依托单位: University of Washington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2309195&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Probing; Fundamental; Physics; Gravitational; Experiments

In modern physics nature is described by two theories. One is the “Standard Model,” which describes all material properties with quantum particles; the other is “General Relativity”, Einstein’s theory that describes gravitation. Most physicists think that there must be a connection between these two theories, but to date there is no experimental signature for such a connection. Furthermore, the discoveries of dark matter and dark energy suggest that gravitational phenomena exist that lie outside of General Relativity. The group at the University of Washington specializes in measuring ultra-feeble forces to search for unprecedentedly small deviations from gravity as described by General Relativity. While observing any deviations from General Relativity would be a revolutionary scientific discovery, it may also have consequences for future technical applications of GPS or next-generation precision clocks. Furthermore, using instruments developed for gravity measurement, the group will look for signatures of dark matter. Technology and technical expertise developed by this group has applications ranging from industrial metrology to earthquake prediction to preparing the country’s STEM workforce.Modern ideas for unifying gravity and particle physics, as well as the observation of dark energy and dark matter, suggest that some aspects of gravity remain undiscovered. The table-top experiments of the University of Washington gravity laboratory (Eöt-Wash Group) provide a unique opportunity to search for new physics at the intersection of General Relativity, cosmology, and particle physics. The group is a leader in the field of ultra-weak force detection through technical expertise and innovation and by responding to the most relevant timely and timeless physics questions. Specifically, the group will: 1) Test the equivalence principle (EP): It is almost certain that any connection between General Relativity and the Standard Model violates the EP. The group’s torsion balances provided the most precise laboratory EP-tests. With highly increased sensitivity through fused silica torsion fibers, a novel gravity gradient measurement, an improved pendulum and better instrument control, new EP measurements will be carried out that will be up to 15 times more sensitive than the group’s previous measurements in constraining B-L couplings. Furthermore, the EP-test’s generality and relevance to cosmology will be enhanced by probing the EP involving hydrogen-rich test masses. 2) Test Newton's Inverse-Square Law (ISL) at short distances: The group will use its expertise in measuring gravity at short distances to build a new instrument and carry out measurements to test gravity at distances as short as 20 µm. 3) Search for ultra-light dark matter using torsion balances. 4) Advance the frontier of low-frequency ultra-small-force technology: Innovative and challenging technology development has enabled the group’s success. The group will further improve angle measurement and develop interferometric and capacitive distance gauges.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

在现代物理学中，自然有两种理论来描述。一种是“标准模型”，它用量子粒子来描述所有的物质性质；另一种是“广义相对论”，它是描述引力的理论，大多数物理学家认为两者之间一定有联系。这两种理论之间存在着联系，但迄今为止还没有任何实验证明这种联系。此外，暗物质和暗能量的发现表明，引力现象存在于华盛顿大学的研究小组之外。专门研究超弱力，以寻找广义相对论所描述的前所未有的微小偏差。虽然观察任何与广义相对论的偏差都将是一项革命性的科学发现，但它也可能对未来 GPS 或下一代技术应用产生影响。此外，该小组将使用为重力测量开发的仪器来寻找暗物质的特征，该小组开发的技术和技术专业知识的应用范围涵盖工业计量、地震预测和国家科学、技术、工程和数学 (STEM) 劳动力的培养。华盛顿大学重力实验室（Eöt-Wash Group）的桌面实验将引力和粒子物理学统一起来，以及对暗能量和暗物质的观察表明，引力的某些方面仍未被发现。该小组通过技术专业知识和创新，并通过响应最相关的及时和永恒的物理问题，在广义相对论、宇宙学和粒子物理学的交叉点上寻找新的物理学。 ， 这小组将： 1）测试等效原理（EP）：几乎可以肯定，广义相对论和标准模型之间的任何联系都会违反 EP。该小组的扭转天平通过融合提供了最精确的实验室 EP 测试，并大大提高了灵敏度。二氧化硅扭转纤维、新颖的重力梯度测量、改进的摆和更好的仪器控制，将进行新的 EP 测量，其在约束 B-L 方面的灵敏度将比该小组之前的测量高出 15 倍此外，通过探测 EP 富氢测试质量，EP 测试的通用性和相关性将得到增强。 2) 短距离测试牛顿反平方定律 (ISL)：该小组将利用其测量重力的专业知识。短距离建造新仪器并在短至 20 µm 的距离内进行测量以测试重力 3) 使用扭力天平寻找超轻暗物质 4) 推进。低频超小力技术前沿：创新和具有挑战性的技术开发使该小组取得了成功。该小组将进一步改进角度测量并开发干涉式和电容式测距仪。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并被认为是当之无愧的。通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来提供支持。