PM: Atomic Parity Violation and Multi-Messenger Astronomy with Atomic Clocks

这个项目是在基础物理领域进行的，那里的发现可能会塑造未来的技术。这类似于20世纪初形成微电子学和量子技术基础的量子力学公式。有压倒性的迹象表明，目前的物理学知识是不完整的：特别是现代物理学和宇宙学无法描述宇宙中85%的物质的性质。无论是在现代物理学的基础--标准模型上，还是在建立可行的量子引力理论方面，都存在着内在的一致性。这块油田进行重大发现的时机已经成熟。在这里，PI追求一种低成本战略，通过分析来自全球定位系统(GPS)的新的高速率数据，进一步扩大发现范围，为改进这一重要的国家资源的诊断做出贡献。另一个实际方面是开发高精度计算工具，用于对重元素的相对论量子化学工具箱中不太精确的工具箱进行基准测试。这些进展与核能生产和核废料管理有关，进而与加强国家能源安全有关。该项目有两个主要组成部分：(I)新一代从头算相对论多体原子宇称破坏计算。目标是提高早期工作的内部一致性，减少理论上的不确定性。实现这一目标将导致对基本粒子标准模型的弱电部分进行改进的低能量测试。(2)寻找由灾难性天体物理事件，如黑洞合并发出的低质量奇异磁场爆发。这是多信使天文学中一种新颖、奇特的物理模式。搜索是通过分析来自GPS卫星的原子钟数据进行的。其结果要么是发现了预测中的多信使特征，要么是改进了目前对原子钟与看似合理地发射的奇异磁场耦合的限制，提高了几个数量级。该项目可能会产生第一个量子引力的实验性签名。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is in fundamental physics, where discoveries are likely to shape future technologies. This is similar to the early 20th century formulation of quantum mechanics now forming the foundation of microelectronics and quantum technologies. There are overwhelming indications that the current state of physics knowledge is incomplete: in particular, modern physics and cosmology fail to describe the nature of 85% of matter in the universe. There are internal consistencies both in the very foundation of modern physics, the Standard Model, and in formulating viable theories of quantum gravity. The field is ripe for major discoveries. Here the PI pursues a low-cost strategy that extends the discovery reach further by analyzing novel high-rate data from the Global Positioning System (GPS), contributing to the improved diagnostics of this important national resource. Another practical aspect is the development of high-accuracy computational tools useful in benchmarking the less-accurate toolbox of relativistic quantum chemistry of heavy elements. Such developments are relevant to nuclear energy production and nuclear waste management and, by extension, to strengthening national energy security.The project has two major components: (i) Next-generation ab initio relativistic many-body calculations of atomic parity violation. The goal is to improve the internal consistency of earlier work and to reduce theoretical uncertainty. Attaining this goal will result in an improved low-energy test of the electroweak sector of the Standard Model of elementary particles. (ii) Search for bursts of low-mass exotic fields emitted by cataclysmic astrophysical events, such as black hole mergers. This is a novel, exotic physics modality in multi-messenger astronomy. The search is carried out by analyzing atomic clock data from GPS satellites. The outcome is either a discovery of the predicted multi-messenger signature or an improvement of the current constraints on coupling of atomic clocks to plausibly emitted exotic fields by several orders of magnitude. The project may yield the first experimental signature of quantum gravity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.