Searching for screened scalar forces with long-baseline atom interferometers

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel atom interferometry experiment to detect screened scalar fifth forces, overcoming background challenges with a new protocol, potentially improving constraints on dark-sector models by over an order of magnitude.

Contribution

It introduces the $Q$-flip protocol and an in situ calibration method for atom interferometers to enhance sensitivity to screened scalar forces in dark-sector models.

Findings

Could test parameter space of chameleon and symmetron models.

Advances existing bounds by 1 to 1.5 orders of magnitude.

Applicable to upcoming experiments like AION-10 and VLBAI.

Abstract

Screened scalars are ubiquitous in many dark-sector models. They give rise to non-trivial fifth forces whilst evading experimental constraints through density-dependent screening mechanisms. We propose equipping a 10\,m-scale long-baseline atom interferometer with an annular planar source mass inside the vacuum chamber to search for such screened fifth forces. Two key challenges arise: distinguishing the static fifth force from backgrounds, and isolating it from the plate's Newtonian gravity. We introduce the `$Q$-flip protocol', which alternates between interferometry sequences to induce controllable time-dependence, aiding signal extraction and de-trending of transient noise. We further develop an \emph{in situ} calibration procedure to characterise the plate's Newtonian gravity and reach shot-noise-limited sensitivity. We show that our proposal could test theoretically motivated parameter space, advancing existing bounds in chameleon and symmetron screened scalar models by $1$ to $1.5$ orders of magnitude. Our proposal is directly applicable to forthcoming experiments, such as AION-10 or VLBAI, and is readily extensible to broader theoretical models and longer baselines.