Atom Interferometry for Fundamental Physics

Speaker
Ben Garber
Date
Fri February 4th 2022, 3:30pm
Affiliation
Stanford University
Event Sponsor
Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics
Location
Varian 355
Ben Garber head shot

Abstract: Matter-wave interferometry using ultracold atoms in free-fall is a versatile experimental technique for precision measurement of fundamental physical constants and laws. The Hogan Lab is developing the subdiscipline of large momentum transfer clock atom interferometry in pursuit of measurement of gravitational waves and a test of the charge neutrality of atoms. In this talk, I will introduce this technique and the measurements we plan to make.  I will describe the designs and construction progress of the MAGIS-100 (gravitational waves) and QMATCH (atomic charge) experiments, with a particular focus on the use of differential measurement to eliminate key systematics.