Speaker
Laura Blackburn
Description
I will discuss
the QSNET project, that is building a network of atomic and molecular clocks in the
UK to achieve unprecedented sensitivity in testing variations of the fine structure
constant, α, and the proton-to-electron mass ratio, μ. This in turn will allow us to
either discover that fundamental constants are actually not constant, or to provide
more stringent constraints on a wide range of fundamental and phenomenological
“new physics” models. These include models of dark energy, ultra-light dark matter
and grand unification models. The project currently includes the National Physical
Laboratory, the University of Sussex, the Imperial College London, the University
of Birmingham, and several international partners.
