Speaker
Chad Orzel
Description
The Standard Model of particle physics is one of the most
successful theories in the history of science, but we
know from phenomena like matter-antimatter
asymmetry, dark matter and dark energy, and neutrino
masses that the Standard Model is not complete. While
the best-known searches for physics beyond the
Standard Model involve particle accelerators and
detectors the size of office buildings, there are smaller
experiments in labs around the world looking for signs of
new physics with atoms, molecules, and lasers. While
the effects of exotic particles are tiny at the atomic scale,
the unparalleled precision of modern spectroscopic
techniques makes it possible to detect even such
minuscule effects, and these measurements provide
some of the tightest constraints we know of on physics
beyond the Standard Model. In these talks, I will review
the basics of the interaction between atoms and light,
and how such systems have been used to detect exotic
effects. I will also discuss the operation of atomic clocks,
and how the development of frequency measurements
accurate to 17 decimal places allows physicists to
changes in the constants of nature, violations of
fundamental symmetries, and other exotic phenomena
using experimental apparatus that fits comfortably
within a single room.
The first talk will cover the background, history, basics of
atomic physics, and a simple example of exotic physics
(parity-violating transitions). The second will cover
atomic clocks, and ultra-high-precision frequency
measurements for things like changing fundamental
constants and EDM's.
