Gravitational Decoherence

646. WE-Heraeus-Seminar

26 Jun - 28 Jun 2017

Where:

Physikzentrum Bad Honnef

Scientific organizers:

Dr. A. Roura, U Ulm • Dr. R. Kaltenbaek, U Wien/AUT • Dr. Magdalena Zych, U Queensland/AUS

The field of gravitational decoherence comprises a broad range of activities in theoretical and experimental physics which explore the nature of gravitational phenomena and how they affect quantum systems, and investigate the role played by gravity in the emergence of classical physics from the laws of quantum mechanics.

The 646. WE Heraeus Seminar on "Gravitational decoherence" will review the major research directions in this field through invited talks, poster presentations and discussions organised around the following themes:

Gravity-motivated modifications to quantum mechanics:

  • intrinsic collapse models,
  • Schrödinger-Newton equation,
  • theory- and device-independent tests of post-quantum theories.

Standard quantum effects from:

  • curved classical spacetime backgrounds,
  • perturbative quantum gravity,
  • quantum cosmology,
  • relational approaches to the notions of space and time.

Experimental tests of the new theories and gravitational effects with:

  • laser interferometry and gravitational-wave detectors,
  • matter-wave interferometry,
  • quantum optomechanics,
  • hybrid interferometric and optomechanical set-ups,
  • particle-physics detectors.

The Seminar will particularly focus on the motivations behind the various theoretical paradigms, their expected outcomes and on clarifying what can be learned about the foundations of quantum and gravitational physics from current and future experiments.