Erlangen 2018 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 36: Precision Measurements and Metrology (Gravity and Miscellaneous) (joint session Q/A)

A 36.6: Talk

Thursday, March 8, 2018, 11:45–12:00, K 2.013

Feasibility and Possibility of Testing Non-Classical Features of Gravity in a Double-slit-Type Experiment — •Sahar Sahebdivan — Atominstitut, TU Wien, Stadionallee 2, 1020 Wien

In this presentation, we are exploring the feasibility of observing non-classical features of gravity in a low-energy regime in a quantum optics experiment.

If gravity has an underlying quantum nature, it should hold the most fundamental quantum characteristics such as superposition principle and entanglement. Despite the weakness of gravity, in principle there is a chance, to observe such a quantum signature of the gravity by exploiting the quantum optical techniques, without direct observation of graviton.

We are investigating a new dynamical scheme called, gravitational quantum regime, in which the source of gravity is a quantum particle, and its centre of mass is subject to the spatial superposition. In a Gedankenexperiment, a test particle is gravitationally interacting with a quantum nanoparticle in a double-slit setup. Possible entanglement or superposition of the fields is investigated.

We are looking for the corresponding deviation of the classical description of gravity despite being far from Planck scale. Any experimental interrogation which reveals that gravitational field obeys the quantum superposition principle would be the first recognition of quantumness of gravity. This study will show how feasible it is to search for a non-classical feature of gravity in such regime of motion.