How does a quantum object gravitate?

Prof. Dr. Markus Aspelmeyer
Universität Wien

How does a quantum object gravitate?

No experiment today provides evidence that gravity requires a quantum description. The growing ability to achieve quantum optical control over massive solid-state objects may change that situation -- by enabling experiments that directly probe the phenomenology of quantum states of gravitational source masses. This can lead to experimental outcomes that are inconsistent with the predictions of a purely classical field theory of gravity. Such 'Quantum Cavendish' experiments will rely on delocalized motional quantum states of sufficiently massive objects and gravity experiments on the micrometer scale. I review the current status in the lab and the challenges to be overcome for future experiments.

Übersicht über alle Kolloquien im Wintersemester 2024/25