Using Atom Interferometery to Search for New Forces

TL;DR

This paper proposes an atom interferometry experiment to detect new short-range forces, potentially improving sensitivity by two orders of magnitude and redefining force limits at sub-millimeter to kilometer scales.

Contribution

It introduces a feasible experimental setup using current technology to significantly enhance the search for new fundamental forces at short distances.

Findings

Sensitivity can be improved by up to 100 times with existing technology

Future advances could extend force detection limits from 100 micrometers to 1 kilometer

Potential to set new constraints on hypothetical short-range forces

Abstract

Atom interferometry is a rapidly advancing field and this Letter proposes an experiment based on existing technology that can search for new short distance forces. With current technology it is possible to improve the sensitivity by up to a factor of 10^2 and near-future advances will be able to rewrite the limits for forces with ranges from 100 um to 1 km.