Probing Fundamental Physics with Gravitational Experiments

该奖项允许华盛顿大学EOT-Wash集团开发超灵敏的扭转平衡仪器，能够检测理论物理中现代思想提出的超弱力，特别是试图将重力与其他三种基本力统一起来。具体地说，将开发这样的仪器：1)通过测试牛顿平方反比定律到比人头发直径小得多的长度来探测额外的维度，2)测试爱因斯坦的弱等价原理，其灵敏度比以前发表的结果好50倍，3)通过测试洛伦兹对称性或电荷宇称(CP)和电荷奇偶时间(CPT)破坏来寻找量子引力效应，4)搜索质量约为1000微eV的轴子类粒子产生的力，5)在接近绝对零度的温度下工作，研究限制扭转平衡灵敏度的因素。EOT-Wash小组始终为他们调查的广泛感兴趣的问题提供最精确的研究。这需要在地面和天基引力波探测等其他领域找到应用的技术创新。该小组的结果被基本粒子、引力和宇宙学理论家用来限制有趣的新想法，通过出版物、综述论文、座谈、特邀演讲、实验室参观和公开讲座广泛传播，并在美国和欧洲的杂志和报纸文章中亮相。该小组解决的各种科学问题和涉及的许多实验挑战为研究生和博士后研究员提供了极好的实验物理教育，并为本科生研究项目提供了极具吸引力的机会。

This award allows the University of Washington Eot-Wash Group to develop ultra-sensitive torsion-balance instruments capable of detecting the ultra-weak forces suggested by modern ideas in theoretical physics, especially attempts to unify gravity with the other three fundamental forces. In particular, instruments will be developed that: 1) probe for ``large'' extra dimensions by testing Newton's inverse-square law down to length scales substantially smaller than the diameter of a human hair, 2) test Einstein's Weak Equivalence Principle with a sensitivity fifty times better than previously published results, 3) look for quantum gravity effects by testing Lorentz symmetry or charge-parity (CP) and charge-parity-time (CPT) violation,4) search for the force produced by axion-like particles with masses around 1000 micro-eV, 5) operate at temperatures close to absolute zero to study factors that limit torsion-balance sensitivity.The Eot-Wash Group has consistently provided the most precise studies of the broadly interesting issues they investigate. This required technical innovations that have found applications in other areas such as ground and space-based gravitational-wave detection. The Group's results are used by elementary-particle, gravitational and cosmological theorists to constrain interesting new ideas, are widely disseminated through publications, review papers, colloquia, invited talks, lab tours and public lectures, and are featured in magazine and newspaper articles in this country and in Europe. The variety of scientific issues addressed by the Group and the many experimental challenges involved provide an excellent education in experimental physics for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, as well as unusually attractive opportunities for undergraduate research projects.