Changing Fundamental Constants In Ion Traps And Dark Matter In Bubble Chambers

Changing Fundamental Constants in Ion Traps and Dark Matter in Bubble Chambers

Brian Odom
University of Chicago

Recently developed atomic physics techniques open new possibilities for science with milliKelvin trapped molecular ions. I will discuss a proposal to use high-precision spectroscopy on special classes of molecules to search for time-variation of the electron-proton mass ratio. Time-dependence of this fundamental "constant" is predicted by several extensions of the standard model. On a different topic, I will briefly discuss new results from the COUPP dark matter search, where a highly stable bubble chamber obtains the best sensitivity to spin-dependent coupling between protons and intermediate-mass WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles).