TESTING QUANTUM GRAVITY in the LAB

Event Date:
2020-02-12T11:00:00
2020-02-12T12:00:00
Event Location:
Hennings 318
Speaker:
Philip Stamp (UBC)
Related Upcoming Events:
Intended Audience:
Graduate
Event Information:

There is now a set of theories which argue that Quantum Mechanics will break down at the Planck scale (ie., for solid bodies of spatial extension ~ 0.5mm), because of gravity. Remarkably, present predictions are that quantum superpositions and interference at this scale will be possible in the next 3-4 yrs. Some of the experimental designs involve LIGO-type technology, but with mirrors of Planck mass. I will survey the theory at an introductory level, and then discuss some of the experimental challenges.

Add to Calendar 2020-02-12T11:00:00 2020-02-12T12:00:00 TESTING QUANTUM GRAVITY in the LAB Event Information: There is now a set of theories which argue that Quantum Mechanics will break down at the Planck scale (ie., for solid bodies of spatial extension ~ 0.5mm), because of gravity. Remarkably, present predictions are that quantum superpositions and interference at this scale will be possible in the next 3-4 yrs. Some of the experimental designs involve LIGO-type technology, but with mirrors of Planck mass. I will survey the theory at an introductory level, and then discuss some of the experimental challenges. Event Location: Hennings 318