Start time: June 7, 2021
Understanding gravity in the framework of quantum mechanics is one of the significant challenges in modern physics. Along this line, a primary question is whether gravity is a quantum entity subject to quantum mechanical rules. Despite the purported weakness of gravity, the phase evolution induced by the gravitational interaction of two-micron size test masses in adjacent matter-wave interferometers can detectably entangle them via the exchange of graviton mediation even when they are placed far enough apart to keep Casimir-Polder forces at bay. This prescription for witnessing entanglement certifies gravity as a coherent quantum mediator through simple correlation measurements between two spins: one embedded in each test mass known as a QGEM (quantum gravity induced entanglement of masses) protocol. This workshop will discuss various theoretical and experimental challenges to conceive the QGEM protocol in a lab that will require an unprecedented level of accuracy in witnessing the quantum nature of one of nature’s weakest interactions.
Speakers:
- Nancy Aggarwal ( Northwestern University, USA )
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Markus Arndt ( University of Vienna, Austria )
- * Markus Aspelmeyer ( University of Vienna, Austria )
- Peter Barker ( University College London, UK )
- Daniel Carney ( Lawrence Berkley lab, USA )
- Brian D’ Urso ( Montana University, USA )
- Ron Folman ( Ben Gurion University, Israel )
- Jan Harms ( Gran Sasso Institute, Italy )
- Jack Harris ( Yale University, USA )
- Bas Hensen ( University of Delft , The Netherlands)
- Myungshik Kim ( Imperial College, UK )
- Timothy Kovachy ( Northwestern University, USA )
- Tongcang Li ( Purdue University, USA )
- Yair Margalit ( MIT, USA )
- Chiara Marletto ( Oxford University, UK )
- Ryan Marshman ( University College London, UK )
- Samir Mathur ( Ohio State University, USA )
- David Moore ( Yale University, USA )
- Gavin Morley ( Warwick University, UK )
- Holger Muller ( Berkley, USA )
- Martin Plenio ( University of Ulm, Germany )
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Carlo Rovelli ( Aix-Marseille University, France )
- Jacob Taylor ( NIST-Baltimore, USA )
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Marko Toros ( University of Glasgow, UK)
- Hendrik Ulbricht ( University of Southampton, UK)
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Vlatko Vedral ( Oxford University, UK )
- * Kathryn Zurek ( Caltech, USA )
Organizers:
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Sougato Bose (University College London, UK)
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Andrew Geraci ( Northwestern University, USA)
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Anupam Mazumdar (University of Groningen, The Netherlands)