Particle and Astroparticle Physics Seminar

Precision searches for new physics using optically levitated microspheres

Dave Moore

Yale University

I will describe the development of a new class of force sensors based on optically levitated dielectric microspheres in high vacuum, which allow the detection of sub-attonewton forces acting on micron sized objects.� These force sensors can enable novel precision searches for new physics through the detection of weakly coupled or short range (<< 1 mm) interactions

Results from the initial application of these force sensors to search for millicharged dark matter particles bound in matter, and for interactions arising in certain screened scalar dark energy models, will be presented

Finally, I will discuss the expected sensitivity of these techniques to search for non-Newtonian or non-Coulombic forces at micron length scales, which can probe a variety of models of physics beyond the Standard Model.