Physics Program Presents
Next-generation Atomic Clocks:
Harnessing Quantum Matter to Study Gravity and Search for Dark Matter
Friday, April 28, 2017
Hegeman 107
12:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
12:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Edward Marti
Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics
University of Colorado
The accuracy of atomic clocks has improved a thousandfold over the last 15 years. The latest generation of atomic clocks, called "optical lattice clocks", can detect changes in general relativity's gravitational redshift over a few centimers. These clocks use extremely stable lasers to count the "ticks" of an optical-frequency transition in atoms cooled to the nanokelvin regime, reaching 18 digits of accuracy in a few hours. In this talk, I will discuss how we achieve this accuracy through exquisite control of the quantum mechanical state of these ultracold atoms, and how we are using these clocks to search for dark matter and test relativity.Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics
University of Colorado
For more information, call 845-752-7302, or e-mail [email protected].
Time: 12:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Location: Hegeman 107