Award Abstract # 1912480
Sensors of Relativistic Phenomena Based on Solid-State Quantum Platforms

NSF Org: PHY
Division Of Physics
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
Initial Amendment Date: July 2, 2019
Latest Amendment Date: July 2, 2019
Award Number: 1912480
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Mike Cavagnero
mcavagne@nsf.gov
 (703)292-7927
PHY
 Division Of Physics
MPS
 Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date: August 1, 2019
End Date: July 31, 2023 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $245,532.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $245,532.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2019 = $245,532.00
History of Investigator:
  • Swati Singh (Principal Investigator)
    swatis@udel.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Delaware
550 S COLLEGE AVE
NEWARK
DE  US  19713-1324
(302)831-2136
Sponsor Congressional District: 00
Primary Place of Performance: University of Delaware
210 Hullihen Hall
Newark
DE  US  19716-2553
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
00
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): T72NHKM259N3
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): AMO Theory/Atomic, Molecular &,
CONDENSED MATTER & MAT THEORY,
EPSCoR Co-Funding
Primary Program Source: 01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 053Z, 1289, 7234, 9150
Program Element Code(s): 128400, 176500, 915000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.049

ABSTRACT

This research aims to identify and explore the promise and limitations of using emerging quantum platforms as precise detectors of various astrophysical phenomena such as continuous gravitational waves and scalar dark matter. Controllable, yet fragile quantum systems can be perturbed significantly by weak forces, thus operating as detectors of tiny forces. Both gravitational waves from distant neutron stars or dark matter in our solar neighborhood would produce weak forces due to stretching and squeezing objects by distances much smaller than the size of the atomic nucleus. This research will study the possibility of detecting these forces by studying their action on state-of-the-art quantum devices. It will also investigate the technical and fundamental limitations on using various quantum objects to detect weak forces.

Both of the relativistic phenomena mentioned above produce tidal forces when acting on extended solid objects. Such forces will be resonantly amplified and can possibly be detected in optomechanical setups, for instance. Along with exploring the viability of various detection schemes with respect to technical and fundamental quantum noise, this program will also explore quantum measurement and feedback-based sensing improvements. This research spans a wide range of experimental systems: superfluid helium acoustic devices, micron sized SiN membranes, and photonic crystal cavities. This theoretical work consists of a combined analytical and computational approach along with strong collaborations with both particle theorists and quantum experimentalists. This project is jointly funded by the Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Program, by the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), and by the Condensed Matter and Materials Theory Program in the Division of Materials Research.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Carney, D and Krnjaic, G and Moore, D C and Regal, C A and Afek, G and Bhave, S and Brubaker, B and Corbitt, T and Cripe, J and Crisosto, N and Geraci, A and Ghosh, S and Harris, J G and Hook, A and Kolb, E W and Kunjummen, J and Lang, R F and Li, T and L "Mechanical quantum sensing in the search for dark matter" Quantum Science and Technology , v.6 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1088/2058-9565/abcfcd Citation Details
Hirschel, M. and Vadakkumbatt, V. and Baker, N. P. and Schweizer, F. M. and Sankey, J. C. and Singh, S. and Davis, J. P. "Superfluid helium ultralight dark matter detector" Physical Review D , v.109 , 2024 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.109.095011 Citation Details
Manley, Jack and Chowdhury, Mitul Dey and Grin, Daniel and Singh, Swati and Wilson, Dalziel J. "Searching for Vector Dark Matter with an Optomechanical Accelerometer" Physical Review Letters , v.126 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.061301 Citation Details
Manley, Jack and Wilson, Dalziel J. and Stump, Russell and Grin, Daniel and Singh, Swati "Searching for Scalar Dark Matter with Compact Mechanical Resonators" Physical Review Letters , v.124 , 2020 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.151301 Citation Details
Manley, J and Stump, R and Petery, R and Singh, S "Searching for scalar ultralight dark matter via refractive index changes in fibers" Physical Review D , v.108 , 2023 https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.108.075008 Citation Details

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

This research explored the promise and limitations of using emerging quantum platforms, in particular superfluid helium based optomechanical systems,  as precise detectors of various physical phenomena such as continuous gravitational waves and scalar dark matter.  In addition, we identified other optomechanical platforms for the detection of ultralight dark matter. Mechanical systems can resonantly amplify the weak forces due to such continuous and narrowband astrophysical signals. We worked closely with well-established experimentalists to study some subtle technical and quantum effects that can limit the performance of these proposed devices. Several  devices identified in this work are already being built in various experimental groups. One can expect a broad range of science and engineering applications to result from merging of quantum devices and relativistic signals, including e.g. quantum metrology applications at or beyond the standard quantum limit, tabletop devices to test for beyond standard model physics, etc.. Moreover, as demonstrated by the output publications, the collaborations built during this work helped with the formation of a common language helping connect cosmologists, particle physicists and quantum optics experimentalists. This will continue to aid  the development of future detectors of astrophysical devices using precision measurement systems. This project provided outstanding educational development for students of all levels: high school, undergraduate and graduate.

 


Last Modified: 06/25/2025
Modified by: Swati Singh

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