Quantum Computation and Information Seminar 

28/11/2014, 14:00 — 15:00 — Room P9, Mathematics Building
Markus Aspelmeyer, University of Vienna

Exploring the interface between quantum physics and gravity in experiments

I will argue for and against possibilities to experimentally test the interface between quantum physics and gravity in a meaningful way. One promising route has been opened by massive mechanical objects that are now becoming available as new systems for quantum science. Devices currently under investigation cover a mass range of more than 17 orders of magnitude - from nanomechanical waveguides of some picogram to macroscopic, kilogram-weight mirrors of gravitational wave detectors. This provides access to a hitherto untested parameter regime of macroscopic quantum physics, eventually at the interface to gravity. My conclusion is therefore going to be an optimistic one.