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arXiv · 2503.02932

Probing New Forces with Nuclear Clocks

Cédric Delaunay·Seung J. Lee·Roee Ozeri·Gilad Perez·Wolfram Ratzinger·Bingrong Yu
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Abstract

Clocks based on nuclear isomer transitions promise exceptional stability and precision. The low transition energy of the thorium-229 isomer makes it an ideal candidate, as it has been excited by a vacuum-ultraviolet laser and is highly sensitive to subtle interactions. This enables the development of powerful tools for probing new forces, which we call {\it quintessometers}. In this work, we demonstrate the potential of nuclear clocks, particularly solid-state variants, to surpass existing limits on scalar field couplings, exceeding the sensitivity of current fifth-force searches at submicron distances and significantly improving equivalence-principle tests at kilometer scales and beyond. Additionally, we highlight the capability of transportable nuclear clocks to detect scalar interactions at distances beyond $10\,$km, complementing space-based missions.

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Cédric Delaunay, Seung J. Lee, Roee Ozeri, Gilad Perez, Wolfram Ratzinger, Bingrong Yu. 2025-03-04. Probing New Forces with Nuclear Clocks. https://doi.org/10.1103/gw1d-hbxj

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