Dark Energy Search by Atom Interferometry in the Einstein-Elevator

Charles Garcion; Sukhjovan S. Gill; Magdalena Misslisch; Alexander Heidt; Ioannis Papadakis; Baptist Piest; Vladimir Schkolnik; Thijs Wendrich; Arnau Prat; Kai Bleeke; Markus Krutzik; Sheng-wey Chiow; Nan Yu; Christoph Lotz; Naceur Gaaloul; Ernst M. Rasel

arXiv · 2502.21150

Dark Energy Search by Atom Interferometry in the Einstein-Elevator

Charles Garcion·Sukhjovan S. Gill·Magdalena Misslisch·Alexander Heidt·Ioannis Papadakis·Baptist Piest·Vladimir Schkolnik·Thijs Wendrich·Arnau Prat·Kai Bleeke·Markus Krutzik·Sheng-wey Chiow·Nan Yu·Christoph Lotz·Naceur Gaaloul·Ernst M. Rasel

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Abstract

The DESIRE project aims to test chameleon field theories as potential candidates for dark energy. The chameleon field is a light scalar field that is subject to screening mechanisms in dense environments making them hardly detectable. The project is designed to overcome this challenge. To this end, a specially designed source mass generates periodic gravitational and chameleon potentials. The design of the source mass allows for adjustment of the amplitude and periodicity of the gravitational potential while keeping the chameleon potential unchanged. The periodicity of the potentials makes them distinguishable from the environment and allows for resonant detection using multiloop atom interferometry under microgravity conditions.

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Charles Garcion, Sukhjovan S. Gill, Magdalena Misslisch, Alexander Heidt, Ioannis Papadakis, Baptist Piest, Vladimir Schkolnik, Thijs Wendrich, Arnau Prat, Kai Bleeke, Markus Krutzik, Sheng-wey Chiow, Nan Yu, Christoph Lotz, Naceur Gaaloul, Ernst M. Rasel. 2025-02-28. Dark Energy Search by Atom Interferometry in the Einstein-Elevator. https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.21150

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