FOCUS RESEARCH NEWS


€4.4 million European research project to test limits of quantum mechanics


l Laser will be shot at tiny particle of glass to detect signs of movement


l If larger objects can behave in quantum manner, chips could be shrunk


A consortium of European universities and British photonics firm M Squared is set to test one of the core principles of quantum mechanics as part of a major €4.4 million (£3.9 million) research project funded by the European Commission. The research could aid in the creation of quantum technologies for space, or lead to the development of ultra-sensitive measuring devices that could outperform existing sensors when measuring the effects of gravity. The Project TEQ consortium, led by


the University of Trieste and featuring British universities Southampton, UCL and Queen’s University Belfast, has devised an ambitious experiment to test the limits of the quantum superposition principle (QSP) – the law that allows microscopic particles such as atoms and electrons to appear in two different, perfectly distinguishable configurations at the same time. The validity of QSP at the microscopic


level is accepted by scientists, and confirmed by an enormous amount of data. However, the principle breaks down at the macroscopic level – which is why everyday objects such as cars and trees cannot behave in a quantum manner and exist in two places at once. Unproven theories


suggest that this is because of a universal background ‘noise’ that destroys the QSP of larger objects. ‘Whether it’s possible to observe quantum behaviour in macroscopic objects is the great unanswered question in quantum physics,’ said Professor Hendrik Ulbricht of the University of Southampton. ‘If it turns out that we can, this could eventually open the way for us to use the amazing characteristics of quantum mechanics in a much larger set of physical systems beyond the microscopic world. We’re about to embark on a very exciting journey.’ The Project TEQ consortium will test


the existence of the theorised background noise by shooting a laser at a tiny particle


“If this work does prove that quantum effects can be seen on a larger scale, it widens the potential commercial applications of quantum technology”


of glass, one-thousandth of the width of a human hair, and measuring the scattered light to reveal signs of the particle’s movement. To do this, the particle will also have to be levitated by an electric field in a vacuum at a temperature nearing absolute zero. If there is no movement, it will show


that quantum mechanics still apply at this scale and there is no universal background


noise. If movement is detected, however, it will indicate the existence of a noise that prevents QSP applying at this scale. This would represent the first observed failure of quantum theory, setting a limit on the scale at which quantum mechanics apply and having implications for large-scale applications of any physical system based on quantum principles. ‘Our research programme could prove


that we do not have to deal with extremely small systems in order to see quantum effects, which is currently the main limitation of quantum technology,’ said Professor Mauro Paternostro of Queen’s University Belfast. ‘If you can prove that quantum theory extends to larger systems, it will offer a much more robust way of processing information: all the chips and integrated systems in computers could be shrunk to a much smaller scale and we would be able to manage quantum for daily applications. ‘This would mean larger data-processing


rates, larger memories and larger transmission rates of data across these larger networks.’ Dr Graeme Malcolm OBE, CEO and


co-founder of M Squared, added: ‘If this work does prove that quantum effects can be seen on a larger scale, it widens the potential commercial applications of quantum technology – in particular, the areas of sensing and metrology will see significant commercial opportunities in the coming decades.'


Filter Windows Training 2682


Laser Safety Workshop at the NPL 19th April Book now!


Laser Safety Interlock Control to


Performance Level ‘e’


Flatfoot Laser Blocking Screens


Optoblok - Modular,


Optical Table Guarding (plus Roofing)


Laser Safety Cabins, Active Guards, Shutters, FDA Reports, Training, Risk Assessments…


Interlocked Motorised


Roller Blinds


Software for Laser Safety Calculations


UKAS Laser Testing. Also LED Testing


+44 (0) 1202 770740 office@lasermet.com www.lasermet.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44