Precision experimental tests of Newtonian gravity at the submicron scale

修正对牛顿引力势的影响将在本项目中讨论。研究将集中在100纳米（nm）范围内的校正。预计将比目前存在额外维度和假想力的极限提高四个数量级。这项工作将在一个创新的实验配置中进行，其中真空波动的影响，即卡西米尔相互作用，将被最小化。然而，相隔约100纳米的两个物体之间的卡西米尔力将被表征到前所未有的水平，包括在低至4 K的低温下的测量。该项目的成功将在很大程度上取决于非常敏感的微机电系统的设计，该系统将与阿尔卡特-朗讯合作开发。该项目解决了一个基本问题，并将增强我们对亚微米级粒子之间基本相互作用的理解。本科生、博士生和博士后将接受测量微小力的方法和方法的培训。与此同时，通过更好地理解卡西米尔相互作用，将获得技术上相关的数据，卡西米尔相互作用是一种不可避免的力，在小的分离中占主导地位，并在微纳米机电系统中引起粘连。大学（IUPUI、普渡大学和沃巴什大学）和工业界（阿尔卡特-朗讯）之间现有的合作将通过这项工作得到加强。

The effect of corrections on the Newtonian gravitational potential will be addressed in this project. The research will be focused on corrections relevant at the 100 nanometer (nm) range. It is expected that an improvement of four orders of magnitude will be achieved over current limits on the existence of extra dimensions and hypothetical forces. The work will be performed in an innovative experimental configuration, where the effect of vacuum fluctuations, i.e. the Casimir interaction, will be minimized. However, the Casimir forces between two bodies separated by a distance of approximately 100 nm will be characterized to an unprecedented level, including its measurement at low temperatures, down to 4 K. The success of the project will depend crucially on the design of very sensitive microelectromechanical systems, which will be developed in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent.The project tackles a fundamental problem and will enhance our understanding of the fundamental interactions between particles at the sub-micrometer level. Undergraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students will be trained in the methodology and approach for measuring minute forces. At the same time, technologically relevant data will be obtained through a better understanding of the Casimir interaction, an unavoidable force that is dominant at small separations and causes stiction in micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. Existing collaborations between Universities (IUPUI, Purdue and Wabash) and industry (Alcatel-Lucent) will be strengthen through this work.