Precision metrology meets cosmology: improved constraints on ultralight dark matter from atom-cavity frequency comparisons

Kennedy, C. J., Oelker, E. , Robinson, J. M., Bothwell, T., Kedar, D., Milner, W. R. and Marti, G. E. (2020) Precision metrology meets cosmology: improved constraints on ultralight dark matter from atom-cavity frequency comparisons. Physical Review Letters, 125, 20130. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.201302)

Abstract

We conduct frequency comparisons between a state-of-the-art strontium optical lattice clock, a cryogenic crystalline silicon cavity, and a hydrogen maser to set new bounds on the coupling of ultralight dark matter to Standard Model particles and fields in the mass range of 10−16 − 10−21 eV. The key advantage of this two-part ratio comparison is the differential sensitivities to time variation of both the fine-structure constant and the electron mass, achieving a substantially improved limit on the moduli of ultralight dark matter, particularly at higher masses than typical atomic spectroscopic results. Furthermore, we demonstrate an extension of the search range to even higher masses by use of dynamical decoupling techniques. These results highlight the importance of using the best performing atomic clocks for fundamental physics applications as all-optical timescales are increasingly integrated with, and will eventually supplant, existing microwave timescales.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: We acknowledge funding support from NIST, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and National Science Foundation QLCI Award No. OMA - 2016244, NSF Phys-1734006, and PHY-1912465.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Oelker, Dr Eric
• Authors: Kennedy, C. J., Oelker, E., Robinson, J. M., Bothwell, T., Kedar, D., Milner, W. R., and Marti, G. E.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review Letters
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• ISSN (Online): 1079-7114
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review Letters 125:201302
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher