Speaker
Description
Atom
interferometers are a class of quantum sensors capable of making precision
measurements in many areas of fundamental physics including gravitational wave
and ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) searches. While the sensitivity of atom
interferometers to scalar and vector ULDM has been established, spin-2 ULDM
models have yet to be fully explored. In this talk I will outline the phenomenology of
spin-2 ULDM in atom interferometers and discuss how best to optimise searches
by operating multiple experiments in a network. Existing laser interferometer
constraints for spin-2 ULDM will be complemented by atom interferometers by
probing different mass parameter space and offering a distinct method of
detection. Not only will spin-2 ULDM induce a change in the laser phase measured
in the interferometer, but will additionally couple directly to the internal energy
states of the atoms. Atom interferometers are uniquely sensitive to both effects,
which will enhance the limits these experiments will place on spin-2 ULDM and
help distinguish these signals from scalar candidates. Work in collaboration with
Diego Blas and Christopher McCabe.
