How to use atoms and molecules to test fundamental physics? The paper reviews the literature on this topic. The tests include:
* parity violation
* searches for permanent electric dipole moments
* tests of the CPT theorem and Lorentz symmetry
* searches for variation of fundamental constants
* tests of quantum electrodynamics
* tests of general relativity and the equivalence principle
* searches for dark matter, dark energy, and extra forces
* tests of the spin-statistics theorem.
Ongoing and future experiments of the next decade are discussed.
Caption: Fractional frequency uncertainties of atomic frequency standards based on microwave (Cs clocks) and optical transitions, as a function of year. The rapid improvements in sensitivity of atomic frequencies enables vast new applications of atomic and molecular systems.
Data points are from Poli et al. (2013), Nicholson et al. (2015), and Huntemann et al. (2016)