Quantum Tests of Gravity

authored by: Sven Herrmann, Dennis Rätzel
Abstract: We give an introduction to quantum tests of gravity including simple exercises. The first part comprises a brief review of the foundations and the status of laboratory-based tests of gravity. In the second part, we discuss a specific platform for quantum tests of gravity represented by cold atom interferometry (CAI) in detail and introduce the non-expert reader to its basic operation principles. The motivation for quantum tests of gravity has two aspects that will both be addressed. The first is technical and based on the fact that quantum technology devices such as CAI are intrinsically very sensitive and allow for highly accurate measurements. As such they may simply help to perform otherwise classical test experiments at improved accuracy. The second motivation roots in the quantum nature of the applied test masses which opens avenues to test gravity theory in ways that are not available with classical systems. We briefly discuss some of the proposed ideas and point the reader to the related literature for further reading.
External Organisation(s): Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM)
Type: Contribution to book/anthology
Pages: 449-476
No. of pages: 28
Publication date: 01.10.2023
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31520-6_14 (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@inbook{da5b084cfcd24be5b25ec0bfac948e6a,
title = "Quantum Tests of Gravity",
abstract = "We give an introduction to quantum tests of gravity including simple exercises. The first part comprises a brief review of the foundations and the status of laboratory-based tests of gravity. In the second part, we discuss a specific platform for quantum tests of gravity represented by cold atom interferometry (CAI) in detail and introduce the non-expert reader to its basic operation principles. The motivation for quantum tests of gravity has two aspects that will both be addressed. The first is technical and based on the fact that quantum technology devices such as CAI are intrinsically very sensitive and allow for highly accurate measurements. As such they may simply help to perform otherwise classical test experiments at improved accuracy. The second motivation roots in the quantum nature of the applied test masses which opens avenues to test gravity theory in ways that are not available with classical systems. We briefly discuss some of the proposed ideas and point the reader to the related literature for further reading.",
author = "Sven Herrmann and Dennis R{\"a}tzel",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.",
year = "2023",
month = oct,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-31520-6_14",
language = "English",
series = "Lecture Notes in Physics",
publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH",
pages = "449--476",
booktitle = "Lecture Notes in Physics",
address = "Germany",
}