Please contact Beth Demkowski, demkowsk@umich.edu for Zoom link.

In this seminar I will outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed experimental programme using cold strontium atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, to explore gravitational waves in the mid-frequency range between the peak sensitivities of the LISA and LIGO/Virgo/ KAGRA/INDIGO/Einstein Telescope/Cosmic Explorer experiments, and to probe other frontiers in fundamental physics.

The first stage of the project was recently funded with about £10M and involves leading UK institutions: University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London (lead institution), Kings College London, University of Liverpool, University of Oxford, and STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory The project is also in partnership with UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Timing, Birmingham, UK, the MAGIS Collaboration, US and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, US.

AION would complement other planned searches for dark matter, as well as probe mergers involving intermediate-mass black holes and explore early-universe cosmology. AION would share many technical features with the MAGIS experimental programme, and synergies would flow from operating AION in a network with this experiment, as well as with other atom interferometer experiments such as MIGA, ZAIGA and ELGAR. Operating AION in a network with other gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO, Virgo and LISA would also offer many synergies.