Gravity in the quantum lab
Gravity in the quantum lab
At the beginning of the previous century, Newtonian mechanics was advanced by two new revolutionary theories, Quantum Mechanics (QM) and General Relativity (GR). Both theories have transformed our view of physical phenomena, with QM accurately predicting the results of experiments taking place at small length scales, and GR correctly describing observations at larger length scales. However, despite the impressive predictive power of each theory in their respective regimes, their unification still remains unresolved. Theories and proposals for their unification exist but we are lacking experimental guidance towards the true unifying theory. Probing GR at small length scales where quantum effects become relevant is particularly problematic but recently there has been a growing interest in probing the opposite regime, QM at large scales where relativistic effects are important. This is principally because experimental techniques in quantum physics have developed rapidly in recent years with the promise of quantum technologies. Here we review recent advances in experimental and theoretical work on quantum experiments that will be able to probe relativistic effects of gravity on quantum properties. In particular, we emphasise the importance of using the framework of Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (QFTCS) in describing these experiments. For example, recent theoretical work using QFTCS has illustrated that these quantum experiments could also be used to enhance measurements of gravitational effects, such as Gravitational Waves (GWs). Verification of such enhancements, as well as other QFTCS predictions in quantum experiments, would provide the first direct validation of this limiting case of quantum gravity.
Gravity, Metrology, Quantum information, Relativistic, Technology
30-70
Howl, Richard
07759460-1d51-4dfd-99a7-aa7c4f4e5068
Hackermüller, Lucia
01fbc878-fd24-4739-9b30-384fad4c74a3
Bruschi, David Edward
12b53097-6abc-427a-9987-b034ac3fae81
Fuentes, Ivette
c6d65a4c-feac-44c1-9097-e0f6a9e0cf44
1 January 2018
Howl, Richard
07759460-1d51-4dfd-99a7-aa7c4f4e5068
Hackermüller, Lucia
01fbc878-fd24-4739-9b30-384fad4c74a3
Bruschi, David Edward
12b53097-6abc-427a-9987-b034ac3fae81
Fuentes, Ivette
c6d65a4c-feac-44c1-9097-e0f6a9e0cf44
Howl, Richard, Hackermüller, Lucia, Bruschi, David Edward and Fuentes, Ivette
(2018)
Gravity in the quantum lab.
Advances in Physics: X, 3 (1), , [1383184].
(doi:10.1080/23746149.2017.1383184).
Abstract
At the beginning of the previous century, Newtonian mechanics was advanced by two new revolutionary theories, Quantum Mechanics (QM) and General Relativity (GR). Both theories have transformed our view of physical phenomena, with QM accurately predicting the results of experiments taking place at small length scales, and GR correctly describing observations at larger length scales. However, despite the impressive predictive power of each theory in their respective regimes, their unification still remains unresolved. Theories and proposals for their unification exist but we are lacking experimental guidance towards the true unifying theory. Probing GR at small length scales where quantum effects become relevant is particularly problematic but recently there has been a growing interest in probing the opposite regime, QM at large scales where relativistic effects are important. This is principally because experimental techniques in quantum physics have developed rapidly in recent years with the promise of quantum technologies. Here we review recent advances in experimental and theoretical work on quantum experiments that will be able to probe relativistic effects of gravity on quantum properties. In particular, we emphasise the importance of using the framework of Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (QFTCS) in describing these experiments. For example, recent theoretical work using QFTCS has illustrated that these quantum experiments could also be used to enhance measurements of gravitational effects, such as Gravitational Waves (GWs). Verification of such enhancements, as well as other QFTCS predictions in quantum experiments, would provide the first direct validation of this limiting case of quantum gravity.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 15 September 2017
Published date: 1 January 2018
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This project has been supported by EPSRC [grant number EP/M003019/1], [grant number EP/K023624/1]; the European Commission grant QuILMI-Quantum Integrated Light Matter Interface [grant number 295293]. This publication was also made possible through the support of the John Templeton Foundation grant ‘Leaps in cosmology: gravitational wave detection with quantum systems’ [grant number 58745]. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.
Publisher Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords:
Gravity, Metrology, Quantum information, Relativistic, Technology
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 476646
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/476646
ISSN: 2374-6149
PURE UUID: 56d61c7a-6635-42bc-8a47-f916df7dd9c8
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Date deposited: 10 May 2023 17:07
Last modified: 05 Jun 2024 19:53
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Author:
Richard Howl
Author:
Lucia Hackermüller
Author:
David Edward Bruschi
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