Unknown ultra-light particles linked to dark matter could be found using atomic clocks

September 5, 2023

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Scientists are utilizing atomic clocks to analyze a number of the universe’s biggest mysteries, together with the character of darkish matter, in a laboratory. Within the course of, they are saying they’re bringing cosmology and astrophysics “right down to Earth.”

The mission, which is a collaboration between the College of Sussex and the Nationwide Bodily Laboratory (NPL) within the U.Ok., makes use of the ticks of those extremely exact clocks to hunt for hitherto unknown ultra-light particles.

These particles could possibly be related to darkish matter, the mysterious substance that makes up an estimated 85% of all matter within the universe however stays successfully invisible to us as a result of it doesn’t work together with gentle or, extra exactly, electromagnetic radiation. Scientists consider most galaxies are enveloped by a cloud of darkish matter, however its presence can solely be inferred by the impact it has on gravity.

Associated: How does an atomic clock work?

“Our universe, as we all know it, is ruled by legal guidelines of physics, so gravity is ruled by normal relativity and particle physics by the Normal Mannequin of particle physics,” Xavier Calmet, mission chief and a professor of physics on the College of Sussex, informed Area.com. “We name deviations from these legal guidelines ‘breakdown in physics’ — principally, that may be a synonym for brand new physics past our present understanding of the universe.”

This new physics could possibly be used to elucidate the character of darkish matter, one thing that does not match throughout the Normal Mannequin.

“One of many largest mysteries is the character of darkish matter. We all know that it’s on the market, we see its affect in our universe, however we do not have a sound clarification throughout the Normal Mannequin of particle physics,” Calmet continued. “There have to be new physics, however we have no idea describe these new particles and the way they couple to common matter.”

How can ‘new physics’ be noticed with atomic clocks?

In keeping with established legal guidelines of physics, clocks ought to tick at a relentless fee, however physics past the Normal Mannequin’s scope would lead to tiny expenses in atomic vitality ranges. This could have an effect on the speed at which clocks tick, however the variation could be so small it might solely be noticed with an extremely exact clock — and that is the place atomic clocks are available in.

“Atomic clocks deliver cosmology and astrophysics right down to Earth, enabling searches for ultra-light particles that would clarify darkish matter in a laboratory,” Calmet stated.

Atomic clocks measure time utilizing atoms with two potential vitality states. When atoms soak up vitality, they go to the next vitality state. Then, they finally launch this vitality and drop again right down to their decrease floor state.

In atomic clocks, teams of atoms are ready by inserting them in the next vitality state utilizing microwave vitality, and the attribute and constant charges at which they vibrate between states — their resonance frequencies — are used to exactly measure time.

So, for instance, all atoms of cesium resonate on the identical frequency, which means the usual measure of a second will be outlined as 9,192,631,770 cycles of cesium. As a result of this biking per second happens with far much less variation than, say, the swinging of a pendulum, this makes atomic clocks extremely exact.

“It has been not too long ago realized that darkish matter could possibly be made from ultra-light particles that work together extraordinarily weakly with common matter,” Calmet defined. “If that’s the case, darkish matter would basically behave as a classical wave that interacts with electrons and protons. This darkish matter wave would give some small kicks to those particles.”

Calmet added that these ultra-light darkish matter particle kicks to the constructing blocks of the atom would result in a time variation in basic constants of the universe, such because the fine-structure fixed or “alpha” — a measure of how robust particles couple through the electromagnetic pressure — and the mass of the proton.

“As a result of atomic clocks are amazingly exact units, they’d have the ability to detect these kicks and thus uncover ultra-light darkish matter,” he continued. “By evaluating two clocks, one delicate to adjustments in alpha and the opposite one much less delicate to adjustments in alpha, we will receive a restrict on the time variation of this basic fixed and thus set constraints on ultra-light particles.”

Calmet thinks the method might probably even be used to analyze one other problematic side of the universe for physicists: Darkish vitality, the unknown pressure that’s driving the accelerating growth of house.

Whereas Calmet acknowledges that darkish vitality is extra probably defined by the cosmological fixed, a type of vitality that acts nearly in opposition to gravity to stretch the material of house and push aside galaxies, there’s a small likelihood it could possibly be related to an ultra-light particle. On this vein, future clocks may be delicate to that particle and its related wave.

“Whereas the clocks haven’t found new physics at this stage, we have been capable of develop a brand new theoretical framework to probe generic new physics with clocks and have been capable of derive the primary model-independent limits on physics past the usual mannequin inside this strategy,” Calmet concluded. “We’re creating a brand new discipline on the interface of atomic, molecular, and optical physics and conventional particle physics.

“These are thrilling outcomes!”

The outcomes are set to be revealed in a future version of the New Journal of Physics.

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