1
|
Wu HN, Li YH, Li B, You X, Liu RZ, Ren JG, Yin J, Lu CY, Cao Y, Peng CZ, Pan JW. Single-Photon Interference over 8.4 km Urban Atmosphere: Toward Testing Quantum Effects in Curved Spacetime with Photons. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 133:020201. [PMID: 39073932 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.133.020201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of quantum mechanics and general relativity has transformed our understanding of the natural world significantly. However, integrating these two theories presents immense challenges, and their interplay remains untested. Recent theoretical studies suggest that the single-photon interference covering huge space can effectively probe the interface between quantum mechanics and general relativity. We developed an alternative design using unbalanced Michelson interferometers to address this and validated its feasibility over an 8.4 km free-space channel. Using a high-brightness single-photon source based on quantum dots, we demonstrated single-photon interference along this long-distance baseline. We achieved a phase measurement precision of 16.2 mrad, which satisfied the measurement requirements for a gravitational redshift at the geosynchronous orbit by 5 times the standard deviation. Our results confirm the feasibility of the single-photon version of the Colella-Overhauser-Werner experiment for testing the quantum effects in curved spacetime.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Nan Wu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Yu-Huai Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Bo Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Xiang You
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Run-Ze Liu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Ji-Gang Ren
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Juan Yin
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Chao-Yang Lu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Yuan Cao
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Cheng-Zhi Peng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| | - Jian-Wei Pan
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China; Shanghai Research Center for Quantum Science and CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 201315, Shanghai, China and Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bassi A, Cacciapuoti L, Capozziello S, Dell'Agnello S, Diamanti E, Giulini D, Iess L, Jetzer P, Joshi SK, Landragin A, Poncin-Lafitte CL, Rasel E, Roura A, Salomon C, Ulbricht H. A way forward for fundamental physics in space. NPJ Microgravity 2022; 8:49. [PMID: 36336703 PMCID: PMC9637703 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-022-00229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Space-based research can provide a major leap forward in the study of key open questions in the fundamental physics domain. They include the validity of Einstein's Equivalence principle, the origin and the nature of dark matter and dark energy, decoherence and collapse models in quantum mechanics, and the physics of quantum many-body systems. Cold-atom sensors and quantum technologies have drastically changed the approach to precision measurements. Atomic clocks and atom interferometers as well as classical and quantum links can be used to measure tiny variations of the space-time metric, elusive accelerations, and faint forces to test our knowledge of the physical laws ruling the Universe. In space, such instruments can benefit from unique conditions that allow improving both their precision and the signal to be measured. In this paper, we discuss the scientific priorities of a space-based research program in fundamental physics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Bassi
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trieste Section, Via Valerio 2, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - L Cacciapuoti
- European Space Agency, Keplerlaan 1 - P.O. Box 299, 2200 AG, Noordwijk, ZH, The Netherlands.
| | - S Capozziello
- Dipartimento di Fisica 'E. Pancini', Università di Napoli 'Federico II', INFN, Sezione di Napoli, via Cinthia 9, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale, Largo S. Marcellino 10, I-80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - S Dell'Agnello
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (INFN-LNF), via E. Fermi 54, 00044, Frascati (Rome), Italy
| | - E Diamanti
- LIP6, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - D Giulini
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstrasse 2, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - L Iess
- Sapienza Università di Roma, 00184, Rome, Italy
| | - P Jetzer
- Department of Physics, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - S K Joshi
- Quantum Engineering Technology Labs, H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory & Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - A Landragin
- SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, LNE, Paris, France
| | - C Le Poncin-Lafitte
- SYRTE, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, LNE, Paris, France
| | - E Rasel
- Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Quantenoptik, Welfengarten 1, 30167, Hannover, Germany
| | - A Roura
- Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Wilhelm-Runge-Straße 10, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - C Salomon
- Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, ENS-Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - H Ulbricht
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mohageg M, Mazzarella L, Anastopoulos C, Gallicchio J, Hu BL, Jennewein T, Johnson S, Lin SY, Ling A, Marquardt C, Meister M, Newell R, Roura A, Schleich WP, Schubert C, Strekalov DV, Vallone G, Villoresi P, Wörner L, Yu N, Zhai A, Kwiat P. The deep space quantum link: prospective fundamental physics experiments using long-baseline quantum optics. EPJ QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY 2022; 9:25. [PMID: 36227029 PMCID: PMC9547810 DOI: 10.1140/epjqt/s40507-022-00143-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Deep Space Quantum Link mission concept enables a unique set of science experiments by establishing robust quantum optical links across extremely long baselines. Potential mission configurations include establishing a quantum link between the Lunar Gateway moon-orbiting space station and nodes on or near the Earth. This publication summarizes the principal experimental goals of the Deep Space Quantum Link. These goals, identified through a multi-year design study conducted by the authors, include long-range teleportation, tests of gravitational coupling to quantum states, and advanced tests of quantum nonlocality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makan Mohageg
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California USA
| | - Luca Mazzarella
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California USA
| | | | - Jason Gallicchio
- Department of Physics, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California USA
| | - Bei-Lok Hu
- Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics and Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland USA
| | - Thomas Jennewein
- Institute for Quantum Computing and Dep. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
| | - Spencer Johnson
- Department of Physics, Illinois Quantum Information Science & Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois USA
| | - Shih-Yuin Lin
- Department of Physics, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Alexander Ling
- Centre for Quantum Technologies and Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Matthias Meister
- Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Ulm, Germany
| | - Raymond Newell
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico USA
| | - Albert Roura
- Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Ulm, Germany
| | - Wolfgang P. Schleich
- Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Ulm, Germany
- Institut für Quantenphysik and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQst), Universität Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, AgriLife Research, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering (IQSE), and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A& M University, College Station, Texas USA
| | - Christian Schubert
- Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Hanover, Germany
- Institute for Quantum Optics, Germany Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Dmitry V. Strekalov
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California USA
| | - Giuseppe Vallone
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padua Quantum Technologies Research Center, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Villoresi
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padua Quantum Technologies Research Center, Universitá degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lisa Wörner
- Institute of Quantum Technologies, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Ulm, Germany
| | - Nan Yu
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California USA
| | - Aileen Zhai
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California USA
| | - Paul Kwiat
- Department of Physics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| |
Collapse
|