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Cited by 594

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 61 of the 61 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Probing Planck-scale physics with quantum optics

Open access
Pikovski, Igor, Vanner, Michael R., Aspelmeyer, Markus, Kim, M. S., Brukner, Časlav·2012·Nature Physics
DOI 10.1038/nphys2262
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Abstract

One of the main challenges in physics today is to merge quantum theory and the theory of general relativity into a unified framework. Researchers are developing various approaches towards such a theory of quantum gravity, but a major hindrance is the lack of experimental evidence of quantum gravitational effects. Yet, the quantization of spacetime itself can have experimental implications: the existence of a minimal length scale is widely expected to result in a modification of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation. Here we introduce a scheme to experimentally test this conjecture by probing directly the canonical commutation relation of the centre-of-mass mode of a mechanical oscillator with a mass close to the Planck mass. Our protocol uses quantum optical control and readout of the mechanical system to probe possible deviations from the quantum commutation relation even at the Planck scale. We show that the scheme is within reach of current technology. It thus opens a feasible route for table-top experiments to explore possible quantum gravitational phenomena. Commutation relations define the limit to which two complementary properties can be simultaneously known—Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Yet it is thought that these canonical relations might be different in the quantum gravity regime. Researchers now show how quantum-optics experiments might provide a direct route for studying these effects.

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Metadata

Authors
Pikovski, I., Vanner, M. R., Aspelmeyer, M., Kim, M. S., & Brukner, Č.
Venue
Nature Physics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2012-03-18
Volume
8
Issue
5
Pages
393-397
ISSN
  • 1745-2473 (ISSN-L)
  • 1745-2481
DOI
10.1038/nphys2262
OpenAlex
W2107602703
Cited by
594
References
61
FWCI
35.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
green

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