Atom-interferometry constraints on dark energy

TL;DR

This paper uses atom interferometry to detect or constrain dark energy models involving light scalar fields, especially chameleon theories, by measuring fifth forces at laboratory scales with high precision.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laboratory approach employing cesium matter-wave interferometry to test and constrain dark energy theories with screening mechanisms.

Findings

Placed new constraints on chameleon and similar dark energy models.

Demonstrated the effectiveness of atom interferometry in probing fifth forces.

Reduced the parameter space for viable dark energy theories.

Abstract

If dark energy --- which drives the accelerated expansion of the universe --- consists of a light scalar field, it might be detectable as a "fifth force" between normal-matter objects, in potential conflict with precision tests of gravity. Chameleon fields and other theories with screening mechanisms, however, can evade these tests by suppressing the forces in regions of high density, such as the laboratory. Using a cesium matter-wave interferometer near a spherical mass in an ultra-high vacuum chamber, we reduce the screening mechanism by probing the field with individual atoms rather than bulk matter. Thus, we constrain a wide class of dark energy theories, including a range of chameleon and other theories that reproduce the observed cosmic acceleration.