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Technical Proposal for the Atom Interferometer CERN Experiment (AICE) Facility
Authors:
Gianluigi Arduini,
Nadja Augst,
Mark G. Bason,
Charles Baynham,
Andrea Bertoldi,
Gianfranco Bertone,
Diego Blas,
Daniela Bortoletto,
Sougato Bose,
Roberto Ales Bozzi,
Oliver Buchmueller,
Tamara Alice Bud,
Clare Burrage,
Sergio Calatroni,
John Carlton,
Vassilis Charmandaris,
Maria Luisa Chiofalo,
Pierre Cladé,
Jonathon Coleman,
Fabio Corsanego,
Albert De Roeck,
Arnaud Devienne,
Fabio Di Pumpo,
John Ellis,
Pierre Fayet
, et al. (57 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present the technical proposal for the Atom Interferometer CERN Experiment (AICE), a $\mathcal{O}(100)$ m vertical atom interferometer to be installed against the wall of the PX46 access shaft to the LHC. AICE is conceived as a versatile and flexible long-baseline atom-interferometry facility whose primary scientific goal is probing for bosonic ultralight dark matter (ULDM) in a mass range inac…
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We present the technical proposal for the Atom Interferometer CERN Experiment (AICE), a $\mathcal{O}(100)$ m vertical atom interferometer to be installed against the wall of the PX46 access shaft to the LHC. AICE is conceived as a versatile and flexible long-baseline atom-interferometry facility whose primary scientific goal is probing for bosonic ultralight dark matter (ULDM) in a mass range inaccessible to other experiments, with a secondary goal of pioneering the exploration of gravitational waves (GWs) with frequencies in the range ${\sim}$0.03-3 Hz as a pathfinder for future longer-baseline detectors. The initial configuration employs ultracold $^{87}$Sr atoms in a single-photon 698-nm interferometer with three shaft-based atom sources in a multi-source gradiometer geometry, supported by one surface reference source for laser stabilisation and diagnostics, to target scalar ULDM. Operation with $^{88}$Sr will give sensitivity to axion-like particles (ALPs), vector ULDM with $B-L$ couplings and violation of the principle of equivalence, while a $^{171}$Yb upgrade will improve the sensitivity to $B-L$ couplings and equivalence violations. Probing the Einstein equivalence principle (EP) and measuring $α$ will proceed in parallel with the ULDM searches. A conceptual feasibility study and a detailed technical implementation study have established that PX46 is a uniquely mature and implementation-ready site, with no technical showstoppers. Completing site preparation works during LS3 would enable the subsequent installation and operation of AICE without impacting HL-LHC operations. The detector design builds on the VLBAI and MAGIS experiments and the AION-10 Technical Design Report, scaling the strontium gradiometer architecture to the $\sim$100 m baseline. AICE is endorsed by the TVLBAI Proto-Collaboration, comprising 57 institutions in 22 countries.
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Submitted 19 August, 2026;
originally announced August 2026.
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GUEST: Gravitational Universe Exploration with Satellite Tracking. A passive satellite laser-ranging mission for the dark gravitational Universe
Authors:
Diego Blas,
Aurélien Hees,
F. Javier Atapuerca,
Giada Bargiacchi,
Massimo Bassan,
Joshua N. Benabou,
Bruno Bertrand,
Adrien Bourgoin,
Clare Burrage,
Nicolò Burzillà,
Alfonso Caldiero,
Roberto Campagnola,
Andrea Caputo,
Ana Caramete,
Laurentiu Caramete,
Joan Manel Casalta Escuer,
Julien Chabé,
Gabriel Chiritoi,
Marco Cinelli,
Florin-Ioan Constantin,
Neil J. Cornish,
Clément Courde,
Simone Dell'Agnello,
Alessandro Di Marco,
Sebastian Ellis
, et al. (56 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
GUEST is a space mission concept whose central objective is the detection of gravitational waves (GWs) in the microhertz band -- a physics-rich frequency window that no other present or planned detector can reach at a significant level. The concept is simple: two dense, passive spheres, covered with cube-corner retroreflectors, deployed in {highly eccentric} Earth orbits ($e \gtrsim 0.7$, period…
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GUEST is a space mission concept whose central objective is the detection of gravitational waves (GWs) in the microhertz band -- a physics-rich frequency window that no other present or planned detector can reach at a significant level. The concept is simple: two dense, passive spheres, covered with cube-corner retroreflectors, deployed in {highly eccentric} Earth orbits ($e \gtrsim 0.7$, period $P \gtrsim 33$ h), tracked continuously by the global network of satellite laser-ranging stations over a minimum observation time of 10 years, with an expected total duration of 30 years. The orbits themselves act as resonant detectors of the oscillating gravitational perturbations, with the microhertz sensitivity emerging from the selected orbital parameters. From the same data stream, GUEST delivers a programme of fundamental and applied science that cuts across particle physics, gravitational-wave astronomy, cosmology, astrophysics, and geodesy: the first coherent search for GWs from supermassive black-hole binaries in the $μ$Hz band, the exploration of primordial GW backgrounds in the unexplored energy-scale gap between pulsar-timing arrays and LISA, a dedicated probe of ultra-light dark matter in a parameter region untouched by any other experiment, a new way to search for ultra-light bosons, order-of-magnitude-improved tests of new gravitational interactions at astronomical ranges, and a step change in the absolute determination of $GM_\oplus$ that underpins the Global Geodetic Observing System and future navigation and Earth-observation missions. This white paper presents the motivation, scientific reach, and mission concept of GUEST.
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Submitted 20 July, 2026;
originally announced July 2026.
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Global detector network to search for high-frequency gravitational waves (GravNet): conceptual design
Authors:
Dorian Amaral,
Diego Blas,
Yuliia Borysenkova,
Dmitry Budker,
Alessandro D'Elia,
Giorgio Dho,
Alejandro Díaz-Morcillo,
Daniele Di Gioacchino,
Sebastian Ellis,
Claudio Gatti,
Benito Gimeno,
Jordan Gué,
Stefan Horodenski,
Saarik Kalia,
Younggeun Kim,
Tom Krokotsch,
Tomas Kvietkauskas,
Adrián Lambíes-Asensio,
Carlo Ligi,
Giovanni Maccarrone,
Giovanni Mazzitelli,
Juan Monzó-Cabrera,
José R. Navarro-Madrid,
José Reina-Valero,
Alessio Rettaroli
, et al. (8 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We propose GravNet (Global detector network to search for high-frequency gravitational waves), a novel experimental scheme enabling the search for gravitational waves in the MHz to GHz frequency range. Such high-frequency gravitational waves could arise from a variety of phenomena connected to some of the most pressing and fundamental questions in modern cosmology. The GravNet concept is based on…
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We propose GravNet (Global detector network to search for high-frequency gravitational waves), a novel experimental scheme enabling the search for gravitational waves in the MHz to GHz frequency range. Such high-frequency gravitational waves could arise from a variety of phenomena connected to some of the most pressing and fundamental questions in modern cosmology. The GravNet concept is based on synchronous measurements of signals from multiple experimental measurement devices operating at geographically separated locations. While gravitational-wave-induced signatures may be present in the signal of a single detector, distinguishing them from instrumental or environmental noise is highly challenging. By analyzing correlations between signals from several distant detectors, the detection significance is substantially enhanced, while simultaneously enabling studies of the nature and origin of the gravitational-wave signal. In this work, we discuss the GravNet concept specifically in the context of cavities operated in strong magnetic fields, as these currently represent the most technically mature and experimentally advanced realization of the scheme. As part of this proposal, a first demonstration experiment using a non-superconducting cavity has been performed, providing the basis for the data-analysis strategies discussed in this work. Finally, we outline the prospects and future development of GravNet as a global network for high-frequency gravitational-wave searches.
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Submitted 25 March, 2026;
originally announced March 2026.
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Letter of Intent: AICE -- 100m Atom Interferometer Experiment at CERN
Authors:
Charles Baynham,
Andrea Bertoldi,
Diego Blas,
Oliver Buchmueller,
Sergio Calatroni,
Vassilis Charmandaris,
Maria Luisa Chiofalo,
Pierre Cladé,
Jonathon Coleman,
Fabio Di Pumpo,
John Ellis,
Naceur Gaaloul,
Saïda Guellati-Khelifa,
Tiffany Harte,
Richard Hobson,
Michael Holynski,
Samuel Lellouch,
Lucas Lombriser,
Elias Lopez Asamar,
Michele Maggiore,
Christopher McCabe,
Jeremiah Mitchell,
Ernst M. Rasel,
Federico Sanchez Nieto,
Wolfgang Schleich
, et al. (9 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We propose an O(100)m Atom Interferometer (AI) experiment -- AICE -- to be installed against a wall of the PX46 access shaft to the LHC. This experiment would probe unexplored ranges of the possible couplings of bosonic ultralight dark matter (ULDM) to atomic constituents and undertake a pioneering search for gravitational waves (GWs) at frequencies intermediate between those to which existing and…
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We propose an O(100)m Atom Interferometer (AI) experiment -- AICE -- to be installed against a wall of the PX46 access shaft to the LHC. This experiment would probe unexplored ranges of the possible couplings of bosonic ultralight dark matter (ULDM) to atomic constituents and undertake a pioneering search for gravitational waves (GWs) at frequencies intermediate between those to which existing and planned experiments are sensitive, among other fundamental physics studies. A conceptual feasibility study showed that this AI experiment could be isolated from the LHC by installing a shielding wall in the TX46 gallery, and surveyed issues related to the proximity of the LHC machine, finding no technical obstacles. A detailed technical implementation study has shown that the preparatory civil-engineering work, installation of bespoke radiation shielding, deployment of access-control systems and safety alarms, and installation of an elevator platform could be carried out during LS3, allowing installation and operation of the AICE detector to proceed during Run 4 without impacting HL-LHC operation. These studies have established that PX46 is a uniquely promising location for an AI experiment. We foresee that, if the CERN management encourages this Letter of Intent, a significant fraction of the Terrestrial Very Long Baseline Atom Interferometer (TVLBAI) Proto-Collaboration may wish to contribute to AICE.
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Submitted 16 September, 2025; v1 submitted 15 September, 2025;
originally announced September 2025.
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AION-10: Technical Design Report for a 10m Atom Interferometer in Oxford
Authors:
K. Bongs,
A. Brzakalik,
U. Chauhan,
S. Dey,
O. Ennis,
S. Hedges,
T. Hird,
M. Holynski,
S. Lellouch,
M. Langlois,
B. Stray,
B. Bostwick,
J. Chen,
Z. Eyler,
V. Gibson,
T. L. Harte,
C. C. Hsu,
M. Karzazi,
C. Lu,
B. Millward,
J. Mitchell,
N. Mouelle,
B. Panchumarthi,
J. Scheper,
U. Schneider
, et al. (67 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
This Technical Design Report presents AION-10, a 10-meter atom interferometer to be located at Oxford University using ultracold strontium atoms to make precision measurements of fundamental physics. AION-10 serves as both a prototype for future larger-scale experiments and a versatile scientific instrument capable of conducting its own diverse physics programme.
The design features a 10-meter v…
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This Technical Design Report presents AION-10, a 10-meter atom interferometer to be located at Oxford University using ultracold strontium atoms to make precision measurements of fundamental physics. AION-10 serves as both a prototype for future larger-scale experiments and a versatile scientific instrument capable of conducting its own diverse physics programme.
The design features a 10-meter vertical tower housing two atom interferometer sources in an ultra-high vacuum environment. Key engineering challenges include achieving nanometer-level vibrational stability and precise magnetic field control. Solutions include active vibration isolation, specialized magnetic shielding, and a modular assembly approach using professional lifting equipment.
Detailed analysis confirms the design meets all performance requirements, with critical optical components remaining within our specifications 97% of the time under realistic operating conditions. Vacuum and vibration measurements in the host building validate that the instrument will achieve the precision needed for quantum sensing applications.
This work establishes the technical foundation for scaling atom interferometry to longer baselines while creating a cutting-edge facility for precision measurements that could advance our understanding of fundamental physics.
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Submitted 5 August, 2025;
originally announced August 2025.
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A prototype differential atom interferometer for fundamental physics
Authors:
C. F. A. Baynham,
R. Hobson,
O. Buchmueller,
D. Evans,
L. Hawkins,
L. Iannizzotto-Venezze,
A. Josset,
D. Lee,
E. Pasatembou,
B. E. Sauer,
M. R. Tarbutt,
T. Walker,
O. Ennis,
U. Chauhan,
A. Brzakalik,
S. Dey,
S. Hedges,
B. Stray,
M. Langlois,
K. Bongs,
T. Hird,
S. Lellouch,
M. Holynski,
B. Bostwick,
J. Chen
, et al. (67 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Gravitational waves and ultralight dark matter are among the most compelling frontiers in fundamental physics, motivating proposals for Very Long-Baseline Atom Interferometers (VLBAIs) such as AION, MAGIS, AICE and AEDGE that aim to detect frequencies at which ground-based and space-borne laser interferometers lose sensitivity. VLBAIs look for signals by comparing the quantum phase evolution of wi…
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Gravitational waves and ultralight dark matter are among the most compelling frontiers in fundamental physics, motivating proposals for Very Long-Baseline Atom Interferometers (VLBAIs) such as AION, MAGIS, AICE and AEDGE that aim to detect frequencies at which ground-based and space-borne laser interferometers lose sensitivity. VLBAIs look for signals by comparing the quantum phase evolution of widely separated atomic ensembles interrogated by a common laser. However, their performance depends critically on suppressing noise sources, particularly laser phase noise. Experimental validation of such noise rejection remains an important challenge.
Here we demonstrate a prototype differential atom interferometer based on the single-photon clock transition of fermionic 87Sr, realising for the first time a gradiometer configuration with a species intrinsically suited to kilometre-scale and space-baseline operation. The instrument operates at the Standard Quantum Limit with no excess noise beyond atom shot noise, and the differential configuration maintains quantum-limited sensitivity in the presence of several radians of artificially injected laser phase noise per shot, emulating the conditions expected in a VLBAI. We further demonstrate recovery of coherent oscillatory signals across a broad frequency range under fully phase-randomised conditions, a capability that is inaccessible to a single interferometer operating in the same regime.
These results provide an experimental validation of the noise-immune measurement principle underlying VLBAIs and mark an important step towards next-generation quantum sensors for gravitational-wave detection and searches for ultralight dark matter.
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Submitted 24 June, 2026; v1 submitted 12 April, 2025;
originally announced April 2025.
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Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry
Authors:
Antun Balaz,
Diego Blas,
Oliver Buchmueller,
Sergio Calatroni,
Laurentiu-Ioan Caramete,
David Cerdeno,
Maria Luisa Chiofalo,
Fabio Di Pumpo,
Goran Djordjevic,
John Ellis,
Pierre Fayet,
Chris Foot,
Naceur Gaaloul,
Susan Gardner,
Barry M Garraway,
Alexandre Gauguet,
Enno Giese,
Jason M. Hogan,
Onur Hosten,
Alex Kehagias,
Eva Kilian,
Tim Kovachy,
Carlos Lacasta,
Marek Lewicki,
Elias Lopez Asamar
, et al. (28 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Long-baseline atom interferometry is a promising technique for probing various aspects of fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology, including searches for ultralight dark matter (ULDM) and for gravitational waves (GWs) in the frequency range around 1~Hz that is not covered by present and planned detectors using laser interferometry. The MAGIS detector is under construction at Fermilab, as i…
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Long-baseline atom interferometry is a promising technique for probing various aspects of fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology, including searches for ultralight dark matter (ULDM) and for gravitational waves (GWs) in the frequency range around 1~Hz that is not covered by present and planned detectors using laser interferometry. The MAGIS detector is under construction at Fermilab, as is the MIGA detector in France. The PX46 access shaft to the LHC has been identified as a very suitable site for an atom interferometer of height $\sim 100$m, sites at the Boulby mine in the UK and the Canfranc Laboratory are also under investigation, and possible sites for km-class detectors have been suggested. The Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry (TVLBAI) Proto-Collaboration proposes a coordinated programme of interferometers of increasing baselines.
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Submitted 6 April, 2025; v1 submitted 27 March, 2025;
originally announced March 2025.
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Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry: Summary of the Second Workshop
Authors:
Adam Abdalla,
Mahiro Abe,
Sven Abend,
Mouine Abidi,
Monika Aidelsburger,
Ashkan Alibabaei,
Baptiste Allard,
John Antoniadis,
Gianluigi Arduini,
Nadja Augst,
Philippos Balamatsias,
Antun Balaz,
Hannah Banks,
Rachel L. Barcklay,
Michele Barone,
Michele Barsanti,
Mark G. Bason,
Angelo Bassi,
Jean-Baptiste Bayle,
Charles F. A. Baynham,
Quentin Beaufils,
Slyan Beldjoudi,
Aleksandar Belic,
Shayne Bennetts,
Jose Bernabeu
, et al. (285 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
This summary of the second Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry (TVLBAI) Workshop provides a comprehensive overview of our meeting held in London in April 2024, building on the initial discussions during the inaugural workshop held at CERN in March 2023. Like the summary of the first workshop, this document records a critical milestone for the international atom interferometry commun…
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This summary of the second Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry (TVLBAI) Workshop provides a comprehensive overview of our meeting held in London in April 2024, building on the initial discussions during the inaugural workshop held at CERN in March 2023. Like the summary of the first workshop, this document records a critical milestone for the international atom interferometry community. It documents our concerted efforts to evaluate progress, address emerging challenges, and refine strategic directions for future large-scale atom interferometry projects. Our commitment to collaboration is manifested by the integration of diverse expertise and the coordination of international resources, all aimed at advancing the frontiers of atom interferometry physics and technology, as set out in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by over 50 institutions.
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Submitted 19 December, 2024;
originally announced December 2024.
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Massive graviton dark matter searches with long-baseline atom interferometers
Authors:
Diego Blas,
John Carlton,
Christopher McCabe
Abstract:
Atom interferometers offer exceptional sensitivity to ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) by precisely measuring effects on atomic systems. Previous studies have demonstrated their capability to detect scalar and vector ULDM candidates, yet their potential for probing spin-2 ULDM remains unexplored. In this work, we address this gap by investigating the sensitivity of atom interferometers to spin-2 ULD…
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Atom interferometers offer exceptional sensitivity to ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) by precisely measuring effects on atomic systems. Previous studies have demonstrated their capability to detect scalar and vector ULDM candidates, yet their potential for probing spin-2 ULDM remains unexplored. In this work, we address this gap by investigating the sensitivity of atom interferometers to spin-2 ULDM across several frameworks for massive gravity, including the Lorentz-invariant Fierz-Pauli case and two distinct Lorentz-violating scenarios. We show that coherent oscillations of the spin-2 ULDM field induce measurable phase shifts in atom interferometers through three coupling mechanisms: scalar interactions that modify atomic energy levels, and vector and tensor effects that alter the propagation of both atoms and light. We demonstrate that these multifaceted interactions enable atom interferometers to probe a range of ULDM properties and mass scales that are inaccessible to laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Our results establish the potential of atom interferometers to open a new experimental frontier for spin-2 dark matter detection.
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Submitted 20 June, 2025; v1 submitted 18 December, 2024;
originally announced December 2024.
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Can black holes be formed by focussing radiation?
Authors:
Diego Blas,
Vitor Cardoso,
Jose María Ezquiaga
Abstract:
Black holes are extreme outcomes of General Relativity, and can form through a variety of ways, including gravitational collapse of massive stars, or quantum fluctuations in the early universe. Here, we ask the question of whether they can form via focusing of radiation by compact binaries or intense lasers, or via trapping at the light ring of black holes. We provide evidence that gravitational l…
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Black holes are extreme outcomes of General Relativity, and can form through a variety of ways, including gravitational collapse of massive stars, or quantum fluctuations in the early universe. Here, we ask the question of whether they can form via focusing of radiation by compact binaries or intense lasers, or via trapping at the light ring of black holes. We provide evidence that gravitational lensing of radiation from a small, finite number of sources is not a viable mechanism to form black holes.
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Submitted 2 February, 2025; v1 submitted 30 October, 2024;
originally announced October 2024.
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Study of a cubic cavity resonator for gravitational waves detection in the microwave frequency range
Authors:
Pablo Navarro,
Benito Gimeno,
Juan Monzó-Cabrera,
Alejandro Díaz-Morcillo,
Diego Blas
Abstract:
The direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) of frequencies above MHz has recently received considerable attention. In this work we present a precise study of the reach of a cubic cavity resonator to GWs in the microwave range, using for the first time tools allowing to perform realistic simulations. Concretely, the BI-RME 3D method, which allows us to obtain not only the detected power but a…
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The direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) of frequencies above MHz has recently received considerable attention. In this work we present a precise study of the reach of a cubic cavity resonator to GWs in the microwave range, using for the first time tools allowing to perform realistic simulations. Concretely, the BI-RME 3D method, which allows us to obtain not only the detected power but also the detected voltage (magnitude and phase), is used here. After analyzing three cubic cavities for different frequencies and working simultaneously with three different degenerate modes at each cavity, we conclude that the sensitivity of the experiment is strongly dependent on the polarization and incidence angle of the GW. The presented experiment can reach sensitivities up to $ 1 \cdot 10^{-19}$ at 100\, MHz, $ 2 \cdot 10^{-20}$ at 1\, GHz, and $ 6 \cdot 10^{-19}$ at 10\, GHz for optimal angles and polarizations, and where in all cases we assumed an integration time of $Δt = 1$ ms. These results provide a strong case for further developing the use of cavities to detect GWs. Moreover, the possibility of analyzing the detected voltage (magnitude and phase) opens a new interferometric detection scheme based on the combination of the detected signals from multiple cavities.
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Submitted 17 June, 2024; v1 submitted 4 December, 2023;
originally announced December 2023.
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Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry: Workshop Summary
Authors:
Sven Abend,
Baptiste Allard,
Iván Alonso,
John Antoniadis,
Henrique Araujo,
Gianluigi Arduini,
Aidan Arnold,
Tobias Aßmann,
Nadja Augst,
Leonardo Badurina,
Antun Balaz,
Hannah Banks,
Michele Barone,
Michele Barsanti,
Angelo Bassi,
Baptiste Battelier,
Charles Baynham,
Beaufils Quentin,
Aleksandar Belic,
Ankit Beniwal,
Jose Bernabeu,
Francesco Bertinelli,
Andrea Bertoldi,
Ikbal Ahamed Biswas,
Diego Blas
, et al. (228 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay…
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This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more km-scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions.
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Submitted 12 October, 2023;
originally announced October 2023.
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Centralised Design and Production of the Ultra-High Vacuum and Laser-Stabilisation Systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories
Authors:
B. Stray,
O. Ennis,
S. Hedges,
S. Dey,
M. Langlois,
K. Bongs,
S. Lellouch,
M. Holynski,
B. Bostwick,
J. Chen,
Z. Eyler,
V. Gibson,
T. L. Harte,
M. Hsu,
M. Karzazi,
J. Mitchell,
N. Mouelle,
U. Schneider,
Y. Tang,
K. Tkalcec,
Y. Zhi,
K. Clarke,
A. Vick,
K. Bridges,
J. Coleman
, et al. (47 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
This paper outlines the centralised design and production of the Ultra-High-Vacuum sidearm and Laser-Stabilisation systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories. Commissioning data on the residual gas and steady-state pressures in the sidearm chambers, on magnetic field quality, on laser stabilisation, and on the loading rate for the 3D Magneto-Optical Trap are presented. Streamlining the…
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This paper outlines the centralised design and production of the Ultra-High-Vacuum sidearm and Laser-Stabilisation systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories. Commissioning data on the residual gas and steady-state pressures in the sidearm chambers, on magnetic field quality, on laser stabilisation, and on the loading rate for the 3D Magneto-Optical Trap are presented. Streamlining the design and production of the sidearm and laser stabilisation systems enabled the AION Collaboration to build and equip in parallel five state-of-the-art Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories within 24 months by leveraging key expertise in the collaboration. This approach could serve as a model for the development and construction of other cold atom experiments, such as atomic clock experiments and neutral atom quantum computing systems, by establishing dedicated design and production units at national laboratories.
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Submitted 31 May, 2023;
originally announced May 2023.
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Cold Atoms in Space: Community Workshop Summary and Proposed Road-Map
Authors:
Ivan Alonso,
Cristiano Alpigiani,
Brett Altschul,
Henrique Araujo,
Gianluigi Arduini,
Jan Arlt,
Leonardo Badurina,
Antun Balaz,
Satvika Bandarupally,
Barry C Barish Michele Barone,
Michele Barsanti,
Steven Bass,
Angelo Bassi,
Baptiste Battelier,
Charles F. A. Baynham,
Quentin Beaufils,
Aleksandar Belic,
Joel Berge,
Jose Bernabeu,
Andrea Bertoldi,
Robert Bingham,
Sebastien Bize,
Diego Blas,
Kai Bongs,
Philippe Bouyer
, et al. (224 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We summarize the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, a…
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We summarize the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with ESA and national space and research funding agencies.
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Submitted 19 January, 2022;
originally announced January 2022.
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Refined ultralight scalar dark matter searches with compact atom gradiometers
Authors:
Leonardo Badurina,
Diego Blas,
Christopher McCabe
Abstract:
Atom interferometry is a powerful experimental technique that can be employed to search for the oscillation of atomic transition energies induced by ultralight scalar dark matter (ULDM). Previous studies have focused on the sensitivity to ULDM of km-length atom gradiometers, where atom interferometers are located at the ends of very long baselines. In this work, we generalize the treatment of the…
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Atom interferometry is a powerful experimental technique that can be employed to search for the oscillation of atomic transition energies induced by ultralight scalar dark matter (ULDM). Previous studies have focused on the sensitivity to ULDM of km-length atom gradiometers, where atom interferometers are located at the ends of very long baselines. In this work, we generalize the treatment of the time-dependent signal induced by a linearly-coupled scalar ULDM candidate for vertical atom gradiometers of any length and find correction factors that especially impact the ULDM signal in short-baseline gradiometer configurations. Using these results, we refine the sensitivity estimates in the limit where shot noise dominates for AION-10, a compact 10 m gradiometer that will be operated in Oxford, and discuss optimal experimental parameters that enhance the reach of searches for linearly-coupled scalar ULDM. After comparing the reach of devices operating in broadband and resonant modes, we show that well-designed compact atom gradiometers are able to explore regions of dark matter parameter space that are not yet constrained.
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Submitted 28 February, 2022; v1 submitted 22 September, 2021;
originally announced September 2021.
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AION: An Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network
Authors:
L. Badurina,
E. Bentine,
D. Blas,
K. Bongs,
D. Bortoletto,
T. Bowcock,
K. Bridges,
W. Bowden,
O. Buchmueller,
C. Burrage,
J. Coleman,
G. Elertas,
J. Ellis,
C. Foot,
V. Gibson,
M. G. Haehnelt,
T. Harte,
S. Hedges,
R. Hobson,
M. Holynski,
T. Jones,
M. Langlois,
S. Lellouch,
M. Lewicki,
R. Maiolino
, et al. (16 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed UK-based experimental programme using cold strontium atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, to explore gravitational waves in the mid-frequency range between the peak sensitivities of the LISA and LIGO/Virgo/ KAGRA/INDIGO/Einstein Telescope/Cosmic Explorer exp…
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We outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed UK-based experimental programme using cold strontium atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, to explore gravitational waves in the mid-frequency range between the peak sensitivities of the LISA and LIGO/Virgo/ KAGRA/INDIGO/Einstein Telescope/Cosmic Explorer experiments, and to probe other frontiers in fundamental physics. AION would complement other planned searches for dark matter, as well as probe mergers involving intermediate mass black holes and explore early universe cosmology. AION would share many technical features with the MAGIS experimental programme in the US, and synergies would flow from operating AION in a network with this experiment, as well as with other atom interferometer experiments such as MIGA, ZAIGA and ELGAR. Operating AION in a network with other gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO, Virgo and LISA would also offer many synergies.
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Submitted 8 May, 2020; v1 submitted 26 November, 2019;
originally announced November 2019.
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AEDGE: Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration in Space
Authors:
Yousef Abou El-Neaj,
Cristiano Alpigiani,
Sana Amairi-Pyka,
Henrique Araujo,
Antun Balaz,
Angelo Bassi,
Lars Bathe-Peters,
Baptiste Battelier,
Aleksandar Belic,
Elliot Bentine,
Jose Bernabeu,
Andrea Bertoldi,
Robert Bingham,
Diego Blas,
Vasiliki Bolpasi,
Kai Bongs,
Sougato Bose,
Philippe Bouyer,
Themis Bowcock,
William Bowden,
Oliver Buchmueller,
Clare Burrage,
Xavier Calmet,
Benjamin Canuel,
Laurentiu-Ioan Caramete
, et al. (107 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We propose in this White Paper a concept for a space experiment using cold atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, and to detect gravitational waves in the frequency range between the most sensitive ranges of LISA and the terrestrial LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA/INDIGO experiments. This interdisciplinary experiment, called Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration (AEDGE), will also compl…
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We propose in this White Paper a concept for a space experiment using cold atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, and to detect gravitational waves in the frequency range between the most sensitive ranges of LISA and the terrestrial LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA/INDIGO experiments. This interdisciplinary experiment, called Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration (AEDGE), will also complement other planned searches for dark matter, and exploit synergies with other gravitational wave detectors. We give examples of the extended range of sensitivity to ultra-light dark matter offered by AEDGE, and how its gravitational-wave measurements could explore the assembly of super-massive black holes, first-order phase transitions in the early universe and cosmic strings. AEDGE will be based upon technologies now being developed for terrestrial experiments using cold atoms, and will benefit from the space experience obtained with, e.g., LISA and cold atom experiments in microgravity.
This paper is based on a submission (v1) in response to the Call for White Papers for the Voyage 2050 long-term plan in the ESA Science Programme. ESA limited the number of White Paper authors to 30. However, in this version (v2) we have welcomed as supporting authors participants in the Workshop on Atomic Experiments for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration held at CERN: ({\tt https://indico.cern.ch/event/830432/}), as well as other interested scientists, and have incorporated additional material.
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Submitted 10 October, 2019; v1 submitted 2 August, 2019;
originally announced August 2019.
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Experimental assessment of the speed of light perturbation in free-fall absolute gravimeters
Authors:
H. Baumann,
F. Pythoud,
D. Blas,
S. Sibiryakov,
A. Eichenberger,
E. E. Klingele
Abstract:
Precision absolute gravity measurements are growing in importance, especially in the context of the new definition of the kilogram. For the case of free-fall absolute gravimeters with a Michelson-type interferometer tracking the position of a free falling body, one of the effects that needs to be taken into account is the speed of light perturbation due to the finite speed of propagation of light.…
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Precision absolute gravity measurements are growing in importance, especially in the context of the new definition of the kilogram. For the case of free-fall absolute gravimeters with a Michelson-type interferometer tracking the position of a free falling body, one of the effects that needs to be taken into account is the speed of light perturbation due to the finite speed of propagation of light. This effect has been extensively discussed in the past, and there is at present a disagreement between different studies. In this work, we present the analysis of new data and confirm the result expected from the theoretical analysis applied nowadays in free-fall gravimeters. We also review the standard derivations of this effect (by using phase shift or Doppler effect arguments) and show their equivalence.
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Submitted 5 July, 2015;
originally announced July 2015.