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 Physics at Virginia

"Exploring Gravitational Wave and Dark Matter Physics with the 100-meter-tall MAGIS-100 Atom Interferometer"


Professor Tim Kovachy , Northwestern University
[Host: Prof. Bob Hirosky]
ABSTRACT:

Atom interferometers exploit spatially delocalized quantum states to make a wide variety of highly precise measurements.  Recent technological advances have opened a path for atom interferometers to contribute to multiple areas at the forefront of modern physics, including searches for wave-like dark matter, gravitational wave detection, and fundamental quantum science.  In this colloquium, I will describe MAGIS-100, a 100-meter-tall atom interferometer being built at Fermilab to pursue these directions.  MAGIS-100 will serve as a prototype gravitational wave detector in a new frequency range, between the peak sensitivities of LIGO and LISA, that is promising for pursuing cosmological signals from the early universe and for studying a broad range of astrophysical sources.  In addition, MAGIS-100 will search for wave-like dark matter, probe quantum mechanics in a new regime in which massive particles are delocalized over macroscopic scales in distance and time, and act as a testbed for advanced quantum sensing techniques.  Finally, I will discuss the potential and motivation for follow-on atomic detectors with even longer baselines.

 

VIDEO:
Colloquium
Friday, October 29, 2021
3:30 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special room.

Attend virtually via Zoom: 
https://web.phys.virginia.edu/Private/Covid-19/colloquium.asp
 


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