Archimedes
Archimedes is an experiment of fundamental physics aiming to “weigh the vacuum”. In quantum mechanics, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states that the complete absence of particles and energy in a vacuum is not possible. It must therefore contain “virtual” particles that are dynamically created and then destroyed (annihilated) giving rise to continuous energy fluctuations. If we could measure the interactions between these energy fluctuations and gravity, we could say that we have 'weighed the vacuum' and, therefore, created a bridge between vacuum and gravity.
This experiment will also answer to an open question of fundamental physics and cosmology: what is the nature of the dark energy? The present model of cosmology and the best current experimental evidences indicate that dark energy contributes 69% of the total energy in the present-day observable universe. The mass–energy of dark matter and ordinary (baryonic) matter contributes 26% and 5%, respectively, and other components such as neutrinos and photons contribute a very small amount.
The dark energy can be composed by a new kind of particles or a new scalar field, it can be also a the cosmological constant which can be formulated to be equivalent to the zero-point radiation of space i.e. the vacuum energy. Archimedes will therefore have to carry out very high precision measurements, which is why the experiment will be installed in one of the 'quietest' places in Europe: the SARGRAV underground laboratory, inside the former Sos Enattos mine, in Sardinia. Here, in fact, seismic noises or sounds of anthropogenic origin and Newtonian noise, due to local variations in the force of gravity, are very low. For this reason, the site has been nominated to host the ambitious international Einstein Telescope (ET) project in which Italy is participating with INFN, the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the Italian Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the Universities of Sassari and Cagliari.
Websites:
Thesis Opportunities:
For information regarding thesis opportunities, please contact: Paola Puppo.
Local Coordinator
Paola Puppo| Name | Surname | Role | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergio | Caprara | Associato | Prof. Associato |
| Marco | Grilli | Associato | Prof. Associato |
| Valentina | Mangano | Associata | Assegnista |
| Luca | Naticchioni | Dipendente | Ricercatore |
| Paola | Puppo | Dipendente | Ricercatrice |
| Piero | Rapagnani | Associato | Prof. Associato |
| Fulvio | Ricci | Associato | Prof. Ordinario |
| Naurang L. | Saini | Associato | Prof. Associato |