Relatore
Descrizione
The Cosmological Constant problem is one of the most persistent unresolved issues in theoretical physics, arising from the fundamental incompatibility between Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity. Addressing this challenge, the Archimedes experiment investigates the potential coupling between zero-point quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field and gravitational interactions. The experiment employs an ultra-sensitive, custom-designed beam-balance to detect gravitational forces acting on suspended samples. These samples undergo vacuum energy modulation via a superconducting phase transition, effectively forming a series of Casimir cavities that exclude specific electromagnetic modes. Should vacuum energy gravitate, the expelled modes would generate an upward force on the samples, analogous to Archimedes’ buoyancy principle in fluids, and measurable as a variation in effective weight.
The expected torque signal from this modulation is on the order of 10^−13 Nm/√Hz. To mitigate environmental interference, the experiment is sited at the SarGrav Laboratories in Sardinia’s Sos-Enattos region, renowned for its exceptionally low seismic noise and selected as a candidate location for the next-generation Einstein Telescope gravitational wave observatory.
| Sessione | Onde Gravitazionali e astronomia multimessaggera |
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