Lunar Laser Interferometer to Probe Dark Energy

This research proposes using a lunar laser interferometer to probe dark energy. The effective field theory (EFT) of cosmic acceleration provides a model-independent framework for describing dark energy and modified gravity. However, many of its defining operators remain weakly constrained by existing observations. The study shows that measurements of horizon-scale metric fluctuations with a lunar laser interferometer can directly probe the kinetic sector of the EFT of dark energy. This enables constraints on operators governing scalar perturbation dynamics, rather than only the background expansion history. In particular, the research demonstrates sensitivity to the EFT kinetic coefficient $M_2^4$ and the associated sound speed of dark energy, $c_s^2$. This establishes a qualitatively new observational handle on the microphysical consistency conditions of late-time acceleration models, allowing broad regions of EFT parameter space to be probed, constrained, or potentially discovered. The construction and operation of such an interferometer on the Moon would be a major undertaking, requiring significant technological advancements and international collaboration. The potential scientific payoff, however, is substantial, offering a unique window into the nature of dark energy and the evolution of the universe.

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