This $112,739 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Physics, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), funds research to develop a new system for measuring the Newtonian constant of gravitation (G) with unprecedented accuracy of 10 parts per million or better. The University of Idaho will leverage a recently-developed optomechanical system consisting of a silica microsphere suspended in a magneto-gravitational trap under ultra-high vacuum. The mechanical oscillation of the microsphere will be used to determine G from changes in oscillation frequency when field masses are brought near the trapped particle. This new measurement technique aims to greatly improve knowledge of G, a fundamental constant that is still poorly understood. Data and analysis code from the research will be made openly available to validate the results. The award period is from May 15, 2022 to May 31, 2024.
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