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SUMMARY:Testing gravity's attraction on quantum vacuum: the state of art o
 f ARCHIMEDES experiment (joint PHE/A2C/Theory seminar)
DTSTART:20261106T093000Z
DTEND:20261106T103000Z
DTSTAMP:20261014T070000Z
UID:indico-event-14518@indico.ijclab.in2p3.fr
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Annalisa Allocca (Université de Naples)\n\nThe Cosm
 ological Constant problem is one of the most persistent unresolved issues 
 in theoretical physics\, arising from the fundamental incompatibility betw
 een Quantum Field Theory and General Relativity. Addressing this challenge
 \, the Archimedes experiment investigates the potential couplingbetween ze
 ro-point quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field and gravitation
 al interactions. The experiment employs an ultra-sensitive\, custom-design
 ed beam-balance to detect gravitational forces acting on suspended samples
 . These samples undergo vacuum energy modulation via a superconducting pha
 se transition\, effectively forming a series of Casimir cavities that excl
 ude specific electromagnetic modes. Should vacuum energy gravitate\, the e
 xpelled modes would generate an upward force on the samples\, analogous to
  Archimedes’ buoyancy principle in fluids\, and measurable as a variatio
 n in effective weight.\nThe 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 sele
 cted as a candidate locationfor the next-generation Einstein Telescope gra
 vitational wave observatory.\nThe tilt sensitivity of the Archimedes proto
 type\, which is also installed at the same laboratory\, is currently limit
 ed by thermal noise. This sensitivity in torque has been measured to be be
 low 10−12 Nm/√Hz within the frequency range of 20 mHz to 70 mHz\, plac
 ing it among the most sensitivebeam balances in the world within this rang
 e. The final setup of the Archimedes experiment is now fully operational: 
 the first data taking of the full experiment at room temperature started o
 n October 2025. Preliminary results already demonstrate the exceptional ca
 pabilities of the experimentalapparatus and the remarkably low background 
 noise levels at the experimental site.\n\nhttps://indico.ijclab.in2p3.fr/e
 vent/14518/
LOCATION:200/0-Auditorium - Auditorium P. Lehmann (IJCLab)
URL:https://indico.ijclab.in2p3.fr/event/14518/
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