AION: An Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network
Leonardo Badurina, Elliot Bentine, Diego Blas, Kai Bongs, D. Bortoletto, T. J. V. Bowcock, Kieran Bridges, William Bowden, O. L. Buchmueller, Clare Burrage, J. P. Coleman, Gedminas Elertas, John Ellis, C. J. Foot, V. Gibson, Martin G. Haehnelt, Timothy Harte, S. Hedges, Richard Hobson, Michael Holynski, T. J. Jones, Mehdi Langlois, Samuel Lellouch, Marek Lewicki, R. Maiolino, Peter Majewski, S. Malik, John March-Russell, Christopher McCabe, D. M. Newbold, B. E. Sauer, Ulrich Schneider, I. P. J. Shipsey, Yeshpal Singh, M. A. Uchida, T. Valenzuela, M. van der Grinten, Ville Vaskonen, J. H. Vossebeld, D. Weatherill, I. Wilmut
Abstract
We outline the experimental concept and key scientific capabilities of AION (Atom Interferometer Observatory and Network), a proposed UK-based 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. 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 in the US, 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.