Description:

The merger of quantum theory with gravity is one of the main open problems in physics, with little experimental input to date. But now quantum technologies and a quantum foundations perspective have opened new opportunities to test the interplay of the two theories, and even to test the quantization of gravity itself. Here I will present two of our lines of research in this field: First, I will discuss how quantum theory on curved space-time can be tested through quantum interferometry of proper time, enabling new tests of gravity and quantum theory with atomic clocks, atomic fountains and entangled networks. I will then discuss single graviton detection, which was long considered impossible. Our recent result showed that detection of single gravitons can in fact be achieved with realistic technology, relying on quantum sensing of energy in quantized macroscopic resonators. I will present how and why graviton detection is realistic, what has been overlooked previously, and how such tests can probe linearized quantum gravity with a historic inspiration from early tests of quantum properties of light.

Igor Pikovski, Assistant Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology

Host: Andrew Geraci