Thursday, March 2, 2017, 16:00
OSGA/EG06
Edcel Salumbides, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Abstract:
The hydrogen molecule can be used in a search for physics beyond the
Standard Model. While proposals for new physics are motivated by
high-energy physics, we search for subtle effects at the low-energy
scale in the spectra of these simple molecules, whose quantum level
structure can now be calculated to very high precision. The theoretical
results are confronted with highly accurate measurements using advanced
laser-based techniques, and the comparison used as probe for new
effects. The Angstrom internuclear distances in the hydrogen molecule
lead to an enhanced sensitivity for possible fifth forces at the
Angstrom scale. Such interactions could also be associated with new
particles in the keV mass range. If the size of hypothetical extra
dimensions are comparable to the molecular size, the resulting
enhancement in gravitational effects may lead to measurable energy
shifts. An overview of constraints on new physics based on molecular
spectroscopy will be presented and a perspective on further improvements
will be given.