Optical clocks based on molecular vibrations as probes of variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio

2020/07/30 by Hanneke, David, Kuzhan, Boran, Lunstad, Annika · 1 citation
#Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2007.15750

Abstract

Some new physics models of quantum gravity or dark matter predict drifts or oscillations of the fundamental constants. A relatively simple model relates molecular vibrations to the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ. Many vibrational transitions are at optical frequencies with prospects for use as highly accurate optical clocks. We give a brief summary of new physics models that lead to changes in μ and the current limits on drifts and oscillation amplitudes. After an overview of laboratory procedures, we give examples of molecules with experiments currently in development or underway. These experiments' projected systematic and statistical uncertainties make them leading candidates in next-generation searches for time-variation of μ.

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