Atom-interferometry constraints on dark energy

Abstract

Limiting unknows in the dark side Our knowledge of the inventory of stuff that makes up our universe amounts to a humbling 5%. The rest consists of either dark energy (~70%) or dark matter (~25%). Using atom interferometry, Hamilton et al. describe the results of experiments that controlled for dark energy screening mechanisms in individual atoms, not bulk matter. Aprile et al. report on an analysis of data taken with the XENON100 detectors aiming to identify dark matter particles directly by monitoring their rare interaction with ordinary matter. In this setup, a large underground tank of liquid xenon forms a target for weakly interacting m assive particles. These combined results set limits on several types of proposed dark matter and dark energy candidates (see the Perspective by Schmiedmayer and Abele). Science , this issue p. 849 , p. 851 ; see also p. 786