Optical Atomic Clock aboard an Earth-orbiting Space Station (OACESS): Enhancing searches for physics beyond the standard model in space

TL;DR

This paper proposes a space-based optical atomic clock mission to detect new physics phenomena like dark scalar fields by comparing space and ground clocks, surpassing ground-only experiments in sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces a novel concept for a space-based optical atomic clock mission to enhance searches for physics beyond the standard model.

Findings

Potential to detect dark scalar fields inaccessible to ground experiments

Enhanced sensitivity to dark matter candidates through space-based clock comparisons

Framework for future space missions to test fundamental physics

Abstract

We present a concept for a high-precision optical atomic clock (OAC) operating on an Earth-orbiting space station. This pathfinder science mission will compare the space-based OAC with one or more ultra-stable terrestrial OACs to search for space-time-dependent signatures of dark scalar fields that manifest as anomalies in the relative frequencies of station-based and ground-based clocks. This opens the possibility of probing models of new physics that are inaccessible to purely ground-based OAC experiments where a dark scalar field may potentially be strongly screened near Earth's surface. This unique enhancement of sensitivity to potential dark matter candidates harnesses the potential of space-based OACs.