Constraining modified gravity with quantum optomechanics

authored by

Sofia Qvarfort, Dennis Rätzel, Stephen Stopyra

Abstract

We derive the best possible bounds that can be placed on Yukawa-and chameleon-like modifications to the Newtonian gravitational potential with a cavity optomechanical quantum sensor. By modelling the effects on an oscillating source-sphere on the optomechanical system from first-principles, we derive the fundamental sensitivity with which these modifications can be detected in the absence of environmental noise. In particular, we take into account the large size of the optomechanical probe compared with the range of the fifth forces that we wish to probe and quantify the resulting screening effect when both the source and probe are spherical. Our results show that optomechanical systems in high vacuum could, in principle, further constrain the parameters of chameleon-like modifications to Newtonian gravity.

External Organisation(s)

Imperial College London
University College London (UCL)
Stockholm University
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)

Type

Article

Journal

New journal of physics

Volume

24

ISSN

1367-2630

Publication date

01.03.2022

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy(all)

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ac3e1b (Access: Open)