Atomic clocks in particular can now reach uncertainties as low as 1 part in 10 18 and below, and this has been exploited to provide some of the tightest constraints on present-day temporal variations of the fine structure constant, α, and the electron-to-proton mass ratio, μ, two of the fundamental constants of the Standard Model of particle physics. It has recently been realised that such an exceptional precision is a formidable tool for performing tests of fundamental physics. On the opposite end of the energy spectrum with respect to the theories just mentioned, quantum technologies allow us to perform extremely precise measurements. In other models with ultra light new particles, e.g., models of ultra light dark matter, fundamental constants can have an effective space-time dependence due to the interactions between these ultra light particles and those of the Standard Model of particle physics. Many models of physics beyond these Standard Models lead to a cosmological time evolution of physical constants and, in many of these models, all constants vary if one does. Challenging this central assumption could be the key to solving the dark matter and dark energy enigmas, and also to understand how to unify particle physics and gravity into a unified theory of nature. Crucially, in these models all fundamental constants are assumed to be immutable in space and time and to have had the same value throughout the history of the universe. The two Standard Models rely on a large number of fundamental constants. The precise natures of both dark matter and dark energy remain an open question. Dark energy, usually in the form of a cosmological constant, is instead postulated to explain the observed accelerated expansion of the universe. Dark matter is understood to be a non-relativistic form of matter not accounted for by the Standard Model of particle physics and that is believed to play a crucial role in the dynamics of galaxies. Astrophysical observations suggest that these two forms of energy account for 95% of the energy balance of our universe, with only the remaining 5% described by the Standard Model of particle physics. The cosmological model introduces two new forms of energy: dark matter and dark energy. The Standard Model of particle physics and the Standard Model of cosmology form the current foundation of fundamental physics. We show that in the range of parameters probed by QSNET, either we will discover new physics, or we will impose new constraints on violations of fundamental symmetries and a range of theories beyond the Standard Model, including dark matter and dark energy models. We describe the technological and scientific aims of QSNET and evaluate its expected performance. QSNET will include state-of-the-art atomic clocks, but will also develop next-generation molecular and highly charged ion clocks with enhanced sensitivity to variations of fundamental constants. This is precisely the goal of the recently launched QSNET project: A network of clocks for measuring the stability of fundamental constants. In this work, we discuss how a network of atomic and molecular clocks can be used to look for such variations with unprecedented sensitivity over a wide range of time scales. The detection of variations of fundamental constants of the Standard Model would provide us with compelling evidence of new physics, and could lift the veil on the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Measuring the stability of fundamental constants with a network of clocksĮPJ Quantum Technology volume 9, Article number: 12 ( 2022)
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