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Advanced Tests of Fundamental Physics with State-of-the-Art Optical Clocks/Two-Way Time Links in Space

Published

Author(s)

Chris Oates, Nathan R. Newbury, Laura Sinclair, Leo Hollberg, Andrei Derevianko, Marianna Safronova, Nan Yu, Kurt Gibble

Abstract

Recent advances in optical atomic clocks and optical time transfer have enabled new possibilities in precision metrology for both tests of fundamental physics and timing applications. Space offers both the potential to vary significantly the gravitational potential in which experiments operate and a microgravity environment free from local earth fluctuations. As a result, space borne optical clock tests of fundamental physics could achieve sensitivities four (or more) orders of magnitude beyond those of current tests of relativity. Additional fundamental test opportunities include enhanced searches for dark matter and drifts in fundamental constants.
Citation
Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences Research in Space 2023-2032

Keywords

optical clocks, frequency combs, time and frequency

Citation

Oates, C. , Newbury, N. , Sinclair, L. , Hollberg, L. , Derevianko, A. , Safronova, M. , Yu, N. and Gibble, K. (2021), Advanced Tests of Fundamental Physics with State-of-the-Art Optical Clocks/Two-Way Time Links in Space, Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences Research in Space 2023-2032, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=933610, https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/decadal-survey-on-life-and-physical-sciences-research-in-space-2023-2032#sectionCommittee (Accessed October 11, 2024)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact reflib@nist.gov.

Created December 23, 2021, Updated March 17, 2023