Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites - reaching relativistic distances and velocities

RMIT Australia

Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites - reaching relativistic distances and velocities

Rideout, D, Jennewein, T, Amelino-Camelia, G, Demarie, T, Higgins, B, Kempf, A, Kent, A, Laflamme, R, Ma, X, Mann, R, Martin-Martinez, E, Menicucci, N, Moffat, J, Simon, C, Sorkin, R, Smolin, L and Terno, D 2012, 'Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites - reaching relativistic distances and velocities', Classical and Quantum Gravity, vol. 29, no. 22, 224011, pp. 1-44.

Document type:	Journal Article
Collection:	Journal Articles

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Title	Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites - reaching relativistic distances and velocities
Author(s)	Rideout, D Jennewein, T Amelino-Camelia, G Demarie, T Higgins, B Kempf, A Kent, A Laflamme, R Ma, X Mann, R Martin-Martinez, E Menicucci, N Moffat, J Simon, C Sorkin, R Smolin, L Terno, D
Year	2012
Journal name	Classical and Quantum Gravity
Volume number	29
Issue number	22
Article Number	224011
Start page	1
End page	44
Total pages	44
Publisher	Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.
Abstract	Physical theories are developed to describe phenomena in particular regimes, and generally are valid only within a limited range of scales. For example, general relativity provides an effective description of the Universe at large length scales, and has been tested from the cosmic scale down to distances as small as 10m (Dimopoulos 2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 111102; 2008 Phys. Rev. D 78 042003). In contrast, quantum theory provides an effective description of physics at small length scales. Direct tests of quantum theory have been performed at the smallest probeable scales at the Large Hadron Collider, 10 20 m, up to that of hundreds of kilometres (Ursin et al 2007 Nature Phys. 3 481-6). Yet, such tests fall short of the scales required to investigate potentially significant physics that arises at the intersection of quantum and relativistic regimes. We propose to push direct tests of quantum theory to larger and larger length scales, approaching that of the radius of curvature of spacetime, where we begin to probe the interaction between gravity and quantum phenomena. In particular, we review a wide variety of potential tests of fundamental physics that are conceivable with artificial satellites in Earth orbit and elsewhere in the solar system, and attempt to sketch the magnitudes of potentially observable effects. The tests have the potential to determine the applicability of quantum theory at larger length scales, eliminate various alternative physical theories, and place bounds on phenomenological models motivated by ideas about spacetime microstructure from quantum gravity. From a more pragmatic perspective, as quantum communication technologies such as quantum key distribution advance into space towards large distances, some of the fundamental physical effects discussed here may need to be taken into account to make such schemes viable.
Subject	Quantum Information, Computation and Communication General Relativity and Gravitational Waves
DOI - identifier	10.1088/0264-9381/29/22/224011
Copyright notice	© 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd.
ISSN	0264-9381

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Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites - reaching relativistic distances and velocities