
NSF Org: |
PHY Division Of Physics |
Recipient: |
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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: |
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History of Investigator: |
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Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
550 S COLLEGE AVE NEWARK DE US 19713-1324 (302)831-2136 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
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Primary Place of Performance: |
210 Hullihen Hall Newark DE US 19716-2553 |
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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Parent UEI: |
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NSF Program(s): |
AMO Theory/Atomic, Molecular &, CONDENSED MATTER & MAT THEORY, EPSCoR Co-Funding |
Primary Program Source: |
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Program Reference Code(s): |
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Program Element Code(s): |
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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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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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