ELFT HÍRADÓ

[Szeminárium koordinátor <szfi-seminar AT wigner.hun-ren.hu>]

The seminar is cancelled.
 SZFI Seminar
Prof. Ron Folman
(Ben Gurion University of Negev, host: Domokos Péter)
Observation of the quantum equivalence principle for matter-waves
Einstein's general theory of relativity is based on the principle of 
equivalence - in essence, dating back to Galileo - which asserts that, 
locally, the effect of a gravitational field is equivalent to that of an 
accelerating reference frame, so that the local gravitational field is 
eliminated in a freely falling frame. Einstein's theory enables this 
principle to extend to a global description of relativistic space-time, at 
the expense of allowing space-time to become curved, realising a consistent 
frame-independent description of nature at the classical level. Einstein's 
theory has been confirmed to great accuracy for astrophysical bodies. 
However, in the quantum domain the equivalence principle involves a gauge 
phase that is observable if the wavefunction - fundamental to quantum 
descriptions - allows an object to interfere with itself after being 
simultaneously at rest in two differently accelerating frames, one being the 
laboratory (Newtonian) frame and the other in the freely-falling 
(Einsteinian) frame. This is done with a novel cold-atom interferometer in 
which one wave packet stays static in the laboratory frame while the other is 
in free-fall. We follow the relative-phase evolution of the wave packets in 
the two frames, confirming the equivalence principle in the quantum domain. 
Our observation is yet another fundamental test of the interface between 
quantum theory and gravity. The new interferometer also opens the door for 
further probing of the latter interface, as well as to searches for new 
physics. [1][1] Or Dobkowski, Barak Trok, Peter Skakunenko, Yonathan Japha, 
David Groswasser, Maxim Efremov, Chiara Marletto, Ivette Fuentes, Roger 
Penrose, Vlatko Vedral, Wolfgang P. Schleich, Ron Folman, [2502.14535] 
Observation of the quantum equivalence principle for matter-waves 
(2025)Monday, 7 July 2025, 10:00
Wigner FK SZFI, Bldg. 1, 2nd floor auditorium
Language of the talk: English
All interested are welcome!
Attila Nagyszfi-seminar AT wigner.hun-ren.hu