The Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) will hold a workshop on June 17, 2021, at 8-11 am Pacific Time (15-18 UTC) with two principal goals: (i) seeking community input on possible future missions focused on precision measurements/tests of fundamental physics using high performance clocks in space and (ii) organizing the preparation of white papers in response to the upcoming Call from the Decadal Survey Committee. Central to the discussion will be a recent mission concept (Fundamental physics with an Optical Clock Orbiting in Space) that proposes to place an optical clock in an elliptical orbit to test General Relativity, but all types of clocks-in-space-based fundamental physics research are encouraged (gravitational wave detection, dark matter searches, drifts of fundamental constants, etc.). Also encouraged will be the development of essential supporting technologies including time transfer, optical clocks, and space-qualifiable lasers.

The Workshop will begin with several brief presentations on science possibilities for optical clocks in space with generous time allotted for follow-up questions and discussions. We will conclude this first session with a presentation on the FOCOS mission concept followed by discussion. Following a short overview on the white paper process, we will then have break-out sessions focused on organizing authors and topics for potential white paper submissions. NASA/JPL scientists will be on hand to answer questions.

Attendees are encouraged to register one week in advance and submit one PowerPoint slide describing their white paper focus interests, which they will be able to present during the break-out sessions. The slides will be used to help organize the break-out sessions around the topics of greatest interest to the attendees and to jump start the white paper process.

Expected Workshop output: We hope the workshop will help to generate many interesting and high quality white paper submissions in the space clock science area as well as to identify potential lead authors for various topic areas.

Workshop website/registration: NASA Workshop: High Performance Clocks in Space for Fundamental Physics/Science (google.com)

Workshop materials (templates, reference documents to be added as available): High-Performance Clocks in Space – Google Drive. The meeting link for the June 17th workshop will be provided in a future announcement closer to the Workshop date.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the Workshop.