We propose in this White Paper a concept for a space experiment using cold atoms to search for ultra-light dark matter, and to detect gravitational waves in the frequency range between the most sensitive ranges of LISA and the terrestrial LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA/INDIGO experiments. This interdisciplinary experiment, called Atomic Experiment for Dark Matter and Gravity Exploration (AEDGE), will also complement other planned searches for dark matter, and exploit synergies with other gravitational wave detectors. We give examples of the extended range of sensitivity to ultra-light dark matter offered by AEDGE, and how its gravitational-wave measurements could explore the assembly of super-massive black holes, first-order phase transitions in the early universe and cosmic strings. AEDGE will be based upon technologies now being developed for terrestrial experiments using cold atoms, and will benefit from the space experience obtained with, e.g., LISA and cold atom experiments in microgravity.KCL-PH-TH/2019-65, CERN-TH-2019-126

We show by extensive numerical simulations and analytical variational calculations that elongated binary nonmiscible Bose-Einstein condensates subject to periodic modulations of the radial confinement exhibit a Faraday instability similar to that seen in one-component condensates. Considering the hyperfine states of 87Rb condensates, we show that there are two experimentally relevant stationary-state configurations: one in which the components form a dark-bright symbiotic pair (the ground state of the system) and one in which the components are segregated (first excited state). For each of these two configurations, we show numerically that far from resonances the Faraday waves excited in the two components are of similar periods, emerge simultaneously, and do not impact the dynamics of the bulk of the condensate. We derive analytically the period of the Faraday waves using a variational treatment of the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations combined with a Mathieu-type analysis for the selection mechanism of the excited waves. Finally, we show that for a modulation frequency close to twice that of the radial trapping, the emergent surface waves fade out in favor of a forceful collective mode that turns the two condensate components miscible.

In a recent experiment, a Bose-Einstein condensate of 7Li has been excited by a harmonic modulation of the atomic s-wave scattering length via Feshbach resonance. By combining an analytical perturbative approach with extensive numerical simulations, we analyze the emerging nonlinear dynamics of the system on the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii level at zero temperature. Resulting excitation spectra are presented and prominent nonlinear features are found: mode coupling, higher harmonics generation, and significant shifts in the frequencies of collective modes. We indicate how nonlinear dynamical properties could be made clearly observable in future experiments and compared to our results.