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• Physics 16, s87
A seek for oscillations within the frequencies of optical clocks has come up empty, implying new bounds on ultralight darkish matter particles.
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On the excessive finish of the darkish matter mass vary lies ultralight bosonic darkish matter (UBDM), which is predicted to behave like a sea of light-year-long waves. One method to detect this extremely prolonged darkish matter is to search for small oscillations in elementary constants, such because the high quality construction fixed. A brand new experiment utilizing an optical clock made from a single ion has set the tightest constraints to this point on UBDM candidates [1].
The ocean of UBDM particles is predicted to have an affect on elementary portions, such because the electron cost or quark plenty. The wave movement of the ocean would trigger this affect to range over time, resulting in tiny oscillations in elementary constants. To seek for these oscillations, researchers have beforehand used high-precision optical clocks, whose frequencies rely on elementary constants however in atom-specific methods. By evaluating two completely different clock frequencies, previous work has positioned robust limits on UBDM fashions (see Synopsis: Optical Clocks Be part of the Hunt for Darkish Matter).
To up the ante, Nils Huntemann from the Nationwide Metrology Institute (PTB) of Germany and colleagues carried out a UBDM search with ytterbium, whose clock frequencies are particularly delicate to adjustments within the high quality construction fixed. The group’s main experiment concerned a single trapped ytterbium ion, which has two separate clock frequencies. The researchers appeared for a UBDM sign by measuring each frequencies in an alternating sequence. This single-ion setup may be of curiosity for future area missions that might discover the UBDM density close to the Solar, Huntemann says. The group additionally in contrast the ytterbium clock to a strontium clock. Collectively, the information supply world-leading constraints on UBDM within the mass vary of 10−24 to 10−17 eV/c2.
–Michael Schirber
Michael Schirber is a Corresponding Editor for Physics Journal based mostly in Lyon, France.
References
- M. Filzinger et al., “Improved limits on the coupling of ultralight bosonic darkish matter to photons from optical atomic clock comparisons,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 253001 (2023).
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