Progress in a Vacuum Weight Search Experiment

Year: 2020

Authors: Avino S.; Calloni E.; Caprara S.; De Laurentis M.; De Rosa R.; Di Girolamo T.; Errico L.; Gagliardi G.; Grilli M.; Mangano V.; Marsella MA.; Naticchioni L.; Pepe GP.; Perciballi M.; Pillant G.; Puppo P.; Rapagnani P.; Ricci F.; Rosa L.; Rovelli C.; Ruggi P.; Saini NL.; Stornaiuolo D.; Tafuri F.; Tagliacozzo A.

Autors Affiliation: Natl Inst Opt CNR INO, Sez Napoli, Via Campi Flegrei 34 Comprensorio A Olivetti, I-80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy; Ist Nazl Fis Nucl INFN, Sez Napoli, Edificio 6,Via Cinthia, I-80126 Naples, Italy; Univ Federico II Napoli, Dipartimento Fis Ettore Pancini, Edificio 6,Via Cinthia, I-80126 Naples, Italy; Univ Roma La Sapienza, Dipartimento Fis, Piazzale Aldo Moro, I-00185 Rome, Italy; Ist Nazl Fis Nucl INFN, Sez Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, I-00185 Rome, Italy; European Gravitat Observ Ego, Via E Amaldi Santo Stefano Macerata, I-56021 Pisa, Italy; Ctr Phys Theor, Campus Luminy,Case 907, F-13288 Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, Site Pharo, 58 Bd Charles Livon, F-13284 Marseille, France; Univ Toulon & Var, Campus La Garde,Valette Ave Univ, F-83130 Toulon, France.

Abstract: We present the status of the art of the Archimedes experiment, devoted to measuring the debated interaction of quantum vacuum fluctuations and gravity. The method is essentially the weighing of the transition energy of a layered superconductor where the contribution of vacuum energy to the transition energy is expected to be relevant. The transition is obtained by modulating the temperature of the superconducting sample at a frequency of about 10 mHz and the expected change of weight is measured with a suitably designed high sensitivity cryogenic beam balance. In this paper, we present an overview of the experiment, discussing the expected signal to be measured, and presenting in particular the result of a prototype balance operated in our present laboratory. In the frequency range of the measurement, the sensitivity is affected mainly by seismic, thermal, sensor, and control noise. We discuss these points showing in particular the design of the cryogenic apparatus, the final balance, and the quiet seismic site that will host the final measurement.

Journal/Review: PHYSICS

Volume: 2 (1)      Pages from: 1  to: 13

More Information: This research was funded by INFN.
KeyWords: quantum fluctuations; gravity; vacuum energy; Casimir energy
DOI: 10.3390/physics2010001

Citations: 10
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