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

这个项目属于基础物理学，它的发现可能会影响未来的技术。这类似于20世纪初的量子力学公式，现在形成了微电子和量子技术的基础。有压倒性的迹象表明，物理学知识的现状是不完整的：特别是，现代物理学和宇宙学未能描述宇宙中85%物质的性质。无论是在现代物理学的基础标准模型，还是在制定可行的量子引力理论中，都存在着内在的一致性。该领域有重大发现的时机已经成熟。在这里，PI采用低成本策略，通过分析来自全球定位系统（GPS）的新型高速率数据，进一步扩大了发现范围，有助于改进对这一重要国家资源的诊断。另一个实际的方面是高精度计算工具的发展，有助于对重元素相对论量子化学不太精确的工具箱进行基准测试。这种发展与核能生产和核废料管理有关，并延伸到加强国家能源安全。该项目有两个主要组成部分：(i)原子宇称违反的新一代从头算相对论多体计算。目标是提高早期工作的内部一致性，减少理论的不确定性。实现这一目标将导致对基本粒子标准模型的电弱部分进行改进的低能测试。（二）寻找由灾难性天体物理事件，如黑洞合并所发出的低质量外来场的爆发。这是多信使天文学中一种新颖的、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的多信使特征，要么是将当前对原子钟耦合到可能发射的奇异场的限制提高了几个数量级。该项目可能产生量子引力的第一个实验特征。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.