arXiv subjects

Dmitry Budker

Publications and source records attributed to Dmitry Budker.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Electric dipole moments and the search for new physics

Static electric dipole moments of nondegenerate systems probe mass scales for physics beyond the Standard Model well beyond those reached directly at high energy colliders. Discrimination between different physics models, however, requires complementary searches in atomic-molecular-and-optical, nuclear and particle physics. In this report, we discuss the current status and prospects in the near future for a compelling suite of such experiments, along with developments needed in the encompassing theoretical framework.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Robust Polarization Gradient Cooling of Trapped Ions

We implement three-dimensional polarization gradient cooling of trapped ions. Counter-propagating laser beams near $393\,$nm impinge in lin$\,\perp\,$lin configuration, at a frequency below the S$_{1/2}$ to P$_{3/2}$ resonance in $^{40}$Ca$^+$. We demonstrate mean phonon numbers of $5.4(4)$ at a trap frequency of $2π\times 285\,$kHz and $3.3(4)$ at $2π\times480\,$kHz, in the axial and radial directions, respectively. Our measurements demonstrate that cooling with laser beams detuned to lower frequencies from the resonance is robust against an elevated phonon occupation number, and thus works well for an initial ion motion far out of the Lamb-Dicke regime, for up to four ions, and for a micromotion modulation index $β\leq 0.1$. Still, we find that the spectral impurity of the laser field influences both, cooling rates and cooling limits. Thus, a Fabry-Pérot cavity filter is employed for efficiently suppressing amplified spontaneous emission of the diode laser.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

From atomic physics, to upper-atmospheric chemistry, to cosmology: A "laser photometric ratio star" to calibrate telescopes at major observatories

The expansion of our Universe is accelerating, due to dark energy. But the nature of dark energy has been a mystery since its discovery at the end of the past century. In Research Highlight https://doi.org/10.1002/ntls.20220003 , Justin Albert, Dmitry Budker and Hossein Sadeghpour provide an overview of how a laser photometric ratio star (a novel light source generated by laser excitation of the Earth's upper-atmospheric sodium layer, which will radiate equally brightly at wavelengths of 589 nm and 820 nm) can help us precisely calibrate telescopes in order to understand the nature of dark energy.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2022

New Constraints on Exotic Spin-Velocity-Dependent Interactions

Experimental searches for new, "fifth" forces are attracting a lot of attention because they allow to test theoretical extensions to the standard model. Here, we report a new experimental search for possible fifth forces, specifically spin-and-velocity dependent forces, by using a K-Rb-$^{21}$Ne co-magnetometer and a tungsten ring featuring a high nucleon density. Taking advantage of the high sensitivity of the co-magnetometer, the pseudomagnetic field from the fifth force is measured to be $<7$\,aT. This sets new limits on coupling constants for the neutron-nucleon and proton-nucleon interactions in the range of $\ge 0.1$ m. The coupling constant limits are established to be $|g_V^n|<6.6\times 10^{-11}$ and $|g_V^p|<3.0\times 10^{-10}$, which are more than one order of magnitude tighter than astronomical and cosmological limits on the coupling between the new gauge boson such as Z$'$ and standard model particles.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

Pseudovector and pseudoscalar spin-dependent interactions in atoms

Hitherto unknown elementary particles can be searched for with atomic spectroscopy. We conduct such a search using a potential that results from the longitudinal polarization of a pseudovector particle. We show that such a potential, inversely proportional to the boson's mass squared, $V \propto 1/M^2$, can stay finite at $M \to 0$ if the theory is renormalizable. We also look for a pseudoscalar boson, which induces a contact spin-dependent potential that does not contribute to new forces searched for in experiments with macroscopic objects, but may be seen in atomic spectroscopy. We extract limits on the interaction constants of these potentials from the experimental spectra of antiprotonic helium, muonium, positronium, helium, and hydrogen.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Spectral signatures of axionlike dark matter

We derive spectral line shapes of the expected signal for a haloscope experiment searching for axionlike dark matter. The knowledge of these line shapes is needed to optimize an experimental design and data analysis procedure. We extend the previously known results for the axion-photon and axion-gluon couplings to the case of gradient (axion-fermion) coupling. A unique feature of the gradient interaction is its dependence not only on magnitudes but also on directions of velocities of galactic halo particles, which leads to the directional sensitivity of the corresponding haloscope. We also discuss the daily and annual modulations of the gradient signal caused by the Earth's rotational and orbital motions. In the case of detection, these periodic modulations will be an important confirmation that the signal is sourced by axionlike particles in the halo of our Galaxy.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Do cities have a unique magnetic pulse?

We present a comparative analysis of urban magnetic fields between two American cities: Berkeley (California) and Brooklyn Borough of New York City (New York). Our analysis uses data taken over a four-week period during which magnetic field data were continuously recorded using a fluxgate magnetometer of 70 pT/$\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ sensitivity. We identified significant differences in the magnetic signatures. In particular, we noticed that Berkeley reaches a near-zero magnetic field activity at night whereas magnetic activity in Brooklyn continues during nighttime. We also present auxiliary measurements acquired using magnetoresistive vector magnetometers (VMR), with sensitivity of 300 pT/$\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$, and demonstrate how cross-correlation, and frequency-domain analysis, combined with data filtering can be used to extract urban magnetometry signals and study local anthropogenic activities. Finally, we discuss the potential of using magnetometer networks to characterize the global magnetic field of cities and give directions for future development.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2022

Parity-violation studies with partially stripped ions

We present a theoretical study of photoexcitation of highly charged ions from their ground states, a process which can be realized at the Gamma Factory at CERN. Special attention is paid to the question of how the excitation rates are affected by the mixing of opposite-parity ionic levels, which is induced both by an external electric field and the weak interaction between electrons and the nucleus. In order to reinvestigate this "Stark-plus-weak-interaction" mixing, well-known in neutral atomic systems, we employ relativistic Dirac theory. Based on the developed approach, detailed calculations are performed for the ${\rm 1s}_{1/2} \to {\rm 2s}_{1/2}$ and ${\rm 1s}^2 \; {\rm 2s}_{1/2} \to {\rm 1s}^2 \; {\rm 3s}_{1/2}$ (M1 + parity-violating-E1) transitions in hydrogen- and lithium-like ions, respectively. In particular, we focus on the difference between the excitation rates obtained for the right- and left-circularly polarized incident light. This difference arises due to the parity violating mixing of ionic levels and is usually characterized in terms of the circular-dichroism parameter. We argue that future measurements of circular dichroism, performed with highly charged ions in the SPS or LHC rings, may provide valuable information on the electron-nucleus weak-interaction coupling.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

Limits on axions and axionlike particles within the axion window using a spin-based amplifier

Searches for the axion and axionlike particles may hold the key to unlocking some of the deepest puzzles about our universe, such as dark matter and dark energy. Here we use the recently demonstrated spin-based amplifier to constrain such hypothetical particles within the well-motivated ``axion window'' (1 $μ$eV-1 meV) through searching for an exotic spin-spin interaction between polarized electron and neutron spins. The key ingredient is the use of hyperpolarized long-lived $^{129}$Xe nuclear spins as an amplifier for the pseudomagnetic field generated by the exotic interaction. Using such a spin sensor, we obtain a direct upper bound on the product of coupling constants $g_p^e g_p^n$. The spin-based amplifier technique can be extended to searches for a wide variety of hypothetical particles beyond the Standard Model.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Cold Atoms in Space: Community Workshop Summary and Proposed Road-Map

We summarize the discussions at a virtual Community Workshop on Cold Atoms in Space concerning the status of cold atom technologies, the prospective scientific and societal opportunities offered by their deployment in space, and the developments needed before cold atoms could be operated in space. The cold atom technologies discussed include atomic clocks, quantum gravimeters and accelerometers, and atom interferometers. Prospective applications include metrology, geodesy and measurement of terrestrial mass change due to, e.g., climate change, and fundamental science experiments such as tests of the equivalence principle, searches for dark matter, measurements of gravitational waves and tests of quantum mechanics. We review the current status of cold atom technologies and outline the requirements for their space qualification, including the development paths and the corresponding technical milestones, and identifying possible pathfinder missions to pave the way for missions to exploit the full potential of cold atoms in space. Finally, we present a first draft of a possible road-map for achieving these goals, that we propose for discussion by the interested cold atom, Earth Observation, fundamental physics and other prospective scientific user communities, together with ESA and national space and research funding agencies.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2022

Response of atomic spin-based sensors to magnetic and nonmagnetic perturbations

Searches for pseudo-magnetic spin couplings require implementation of techniques capable of sensitive detection of such interactions. While Spin-Exchange Relaxation Free (SERF) magnetometry is one of the most powerful approaches enabling the searches, it suffers from a strong magnetic coupling, deteriorating the pseudo-magnetic coupling sensitivity. To address this problem, here, we compare, via numerical simulations, the performance of SERF magnetometer and noble-gas-alkali-metal co-magnetometer, operating in a so-called self-compensating regime. We demonstrate that the co-magnetometer allows reduction of the sensitivity to low-frequency magnetic fields without loss of the sensitivity to nonmagnetic couplings. Based on that we investigate the responses of both systems to the oscillating and transient spin perturbations. Our simulations reveal about five orders of magnitude stronger response to the neutron pseudo-magnetic coupling and about three orders of magnitude stronger response to the proton pseudo-magnetic coupling of the co-magnetometer than those of the SERF magnetometer. Different frequency responses of the co-magnetometer to magnetic and nonmagnetic perturbations enables differentiation between these two types of interactions. This outlines the ability to implement the co-magnetometer as an advanced sensor for the Global Network of Optical Magnetometer for Exotic Physics searches (GNOME), aiming at detection of ultra-light bosons (e.g., axion-like particles).

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Improved bounds on ultralight scalar dark matter in the radio-frequency range

We present a search for fundamental constant oscillations in the range $20$~kHz-$100$ MHz, that may arise within models for ultralight dark matter (UDM). Using two independent, significantly upgraded optical-spectroscopy apparatus, we achieve up to $\times$1000 greater sensitivity in the search relative to previous work. We report no observation of UDM and thus constrain respective couplings to electrons and photons within the investigated UDM particle mass range $8\cdot 10^{-11}-4\cdot 10^{-7}$ eV. The constraints significantly exceed previously set bounds, and as we show, may surpass in future experiments those provided by equivalence-principle experiments in a specific case regarding the combination of UDM couplings probed by the latter.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Electrical readout microwave-free sensing with diamond

While nitrogen-vacancy (NV-) centers have been extensively investigated in the context of spin-based quantum technologies, the spin-state readout is conventionally performed optically, which may limit miniaturization and scalability. Here, we report photoelectric readout of ground-state cross-relaxation features, which serves as a method for measuring electron spin resonance spectra of nanoscale electronic environments and also for microwave-free sensing. As a proof of concept, by systematically tuning NV centers into resonance with the target electronic system, we extracted the spectra for the P1 electronic spin bath in diamond. Such detection may enable probing optically inactive defects and the dynamics of local spin environment. We also demonstrate a magnetometer based on photoelectric detection of the ground-state level anticrossings (GSLAC), which exhibits a favorable detection efficiency as well as magnetic sensitivity. This approach may offer potential solutions for determining spin densities and characterizing local environment.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2021

Floquet Spin Amplification

Detection of weak electromagnetic waves and hypothetical particles aided by quantum amplification is important for fundamental physics and applications. However, demonstrations of quantum amplification are still limited; in particular, the physics of quantum amplification is not fully explored in periodically driven (Floquet) systems, which are generally defined by time-periodic Hamiltonians and enable observation of many exotic quantum phenomena such as time crystals. Here we investigate the magnetic-field signal amplification by periodically driven $^{129}$Xe spins and observe signal amplification at frequencies of transitions between Floquet spin states. This "Floquet amplification" allows to simultaneously enhance and measure multiple magnetic fields with at least one order of magnitude improvement, offering the capability of femtotesla-level measurements. Our findings extend the physics of quantum amplification to Floquet systems and can be generalized to a wide variety of existing amplifiers, enabling a previously unexplored class of "Floquet amplifiers".

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Search for topological defect dark matter with a global network of optical magnetometers

Ultralight bosons such as axion-like particles are viable candidates for dark matter. They can form stable, macroscopic field configurations in the form of topological defects that could concentrate the dark matter density into many distinct, compact spatial regions that are small compared to the galaxy but much larger than the Earth. Here, we report the results of a search for transient signals from axion-like particle domain walls with the Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics searches (GNOME). We search the data, consisting of correlated measurements from optical atomic magnetometers located in laboratories all over the world, for patterns of signals propagating through the network consistent with domain walls. The analysis of data from a continuous month-long operation of the GNOME finds no statistically significant signals, thus placing experimental constraints on such dark matter scenarios.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Satellite-assisted laser magnetometry with mesospheric sodium

Magnetic field sensing provides crucial insights into various geophysical phenomena such as atmospheric currents, crustal magnetism, and oceanic circulation. In this paper, a method for remote detection of magnetic fields using mesospheric sodium with an assisting satellite is proposed. Sodium atoms in the mesosphere are optically pumped with a ground-based laser beam. A satellite-borne detector is used to measure magneto-optical rotation of the polarization of a probe laser beam by the sodium atoms. This sensitive magnetometry method benefits from direct detection of laser photons and complements existing space- and aircraft-borne techniques by probing magnetic fields at upper-atmospheric altitudes inaccessible to those.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2021

A machine learning algorithm for direct detection of axion-like particle domain walls

The Global Network of Optical Magnetometers for Exotic physics searches (GNOME) conducts an experimental search for certain forms of dark matter based on their spatiotemporal signatures imprinted on a global array of synchronized atomic magnetometers. The experiment described here looks for a gradient coupling of axion-like particles (ALPs) with proton spins as a signature of locally dense dark matter objects such as domain walls. In this work, stochastic optimization with machine learning is proposed for use in a search for ALP domain walls based on GNOME data. The validity and reliability of this method were verified using binary classification. The projected sensitivity of this new analysis method for ALP domain-wall crossing events is presented.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Surpassing the Energy Resolution Limit with ferromagnetic torque sensors

We discuss the fundamental noise limitations of a ferromagnetic torque sensor based on a levitated magnet in the tipping regime. We evaluate the optimal magnetic field resolution taking into account the thermomechanical noise and the mechanical detection noise at the standard quantum limit (SQL). We find that the Energy Resolution Limit (ERL), pointed out in recent literature as a relevant benchmark for most classes of magnetometers, can be surpassed by many orders of magnitude. Moreover, similarly to the case of a ferromagnetic gyroscope, it is also possible to surpass the standard quantum limit for magnetometry with independent spins, arising from spin-projection noise. Our finding indicates that magnetomechanical systems optimized for magnetometry can achieve a magnetic field resolution per unit volume several orders of magnitude better than any conventional magnetometer. We discuss possible implications, focusing on fundamental physics problems such as the search for exotic interactions beyond the standard model.

quant-ph↗