Looking for Dark Energy on Earth: A New Experiment Using Atom Interferometry That Galileo Would Understand

Note: The Dean Edmonds, Sr. Memorial Lecture. Refreshments served at 3:00 PM in 1st floor lounge
Speaker: Martin L. Perl, Stanford University, SLAC

When: April 5, 2011 (Tue), 03:30PM to 04:30PM (add to my calendar)
Location: SCI 107
Hosted by: Lawrence Sulak
View the poster for this event.

This event is part of the Physics Department Colloquia Series.

Abstract:
The acceleration of the expansion of the universe was discovered about a decade ago by ingenious and amazing astronomical observations of supernova. This unexpected phenomenon is called dark energy, but very little is known about the nature of the phenomenon. Numerous astronomical observations are continuing.

We are building a unique atom interferometer laboratory experiment to investigate on earth the nature of dark energy and at the same time to look for other unknown contents of the vacuum. This experiment assumes that dark energy exerts a force on atoms. The experiment also assumes that the density of dark energy is inhomogeneous since atom interferometry depends on a non-uniform potential.

I will give a pictorial introduction to the wonders of atom interferometry technology, to the essence of this experiment and our speculative hopes.