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Areas of Research

Interface of quantum physics & gravity

In our group we study how quantum theory and gravity intertwine, focusing on low-energies, foundational principles, and experimental signatures in AMO systems. Our research spans:

  • ​Quantum gravity signatures at low energies

  • Quantum dynamics on curved space-time

  • High-precision tests of gravitational phenomena

  • Foundations of quantum theory and gravity

Selected research highlights:

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Quantum control of novel systems

We study the ability to manipulate and to probe quantum phenomena at novel scales, focusing on new experimental platforms. Our research spans:

  • ​Quantum sensing

  • Quantum opto-mechanics

  • Quantum phenomena at macroscopic scales

  • Decoherence

Selected research highlights:

A full list of publicartions can be found here. Some of our work is featured in the news.

Read more about some selected research results:

Detecting Gravitons

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Single graviton detection

Discovery of how single gravitons can be detected, using macroscopic quantum resonators and quantum sensing.

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Graviton detection in historic perspective

Historic context of early tests of quantum theory, motivating new tests of quantum gravity phenomenology with graviton detection.

Fundamentals of the gravity-quantum interface

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Bell inequalities for temporal order

Results show that causality cannot be pre-determined and realistic in quantum gravity.

Work in collaboration with groups of M. Zych and F. Costa
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Interpreting gravitational entanglement

Analysis of gravitationally induced entanglement, conclusions about field quantization and ambiguities in interpretations.

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Gravitational mass of composite systems

Formal demonstration of mass-energy equivalence of composite particles and the Hamiltonian for clocks with time dilation.

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Do Gedanken experiments compel quantization of gravity?

Demonstration that no Gedanken-experiment to date compels a quantum theory of gravity, in contrast to the electromagnetic case.

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Coupling quantum matter to gravity

Geometric study of post-Newtonian gravity coupling to quantum systems, providing a new perspective on their interplay.

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Entanglement witnesses and gravity

Calculation of generic entanglement witnesses that optimize parameter space of gravitationally induced entanglement.

Control of quantum systems

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Quantum metasurfaces with atom arrays

Introducing a new atomic meta-surface architecture with quantum control of dielectric properties.

Work in collaboration with group of M. Lukin
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Probing Planck-scale physics with quantum optics

One of the first formulations of a feasible table-top experiment to test quantum gravity phenomenology.

Work in collaboration with M. Aspelmeyer, in group of Č. Brukner

Gravitational wave detection with AMO systems

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Gravitational wave detection with optical lattice atomic clocks

New gravitational wave detector design based on atomic clocks.

Work in collaboration with groups of M. Lukin, R. Walsworth and J. Ye.
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Gravitational wave detection with superfluid Helium

New resonant, tunable superfluid gravitational wave detector. 

Work in collaboration with group of K. Schwab

Quantum interference of proper time

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Decoherence from gravitational time dilation

Discovery of new decoherence mechanism for composite systems, generated by time-dilation.  

Work in group of Č. Brukner
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Shapiro photon interferometry

Formulation of the interference of single photons in curved space-time and the optical COW effect.

Work in collaboration with T. Ralph, in group of Č. Brukner
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Time dilation Entanglement and decoherence 

Analysis of how time dilation induces entanglement and results in interference modulation and decoherence.

Work in collaboration in group of Č. Brukner
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Proper time interferometry

Discovery of new effects at the interface of quantum theory and general relativity, based on proper time interference of clocks.

Work in group of Č. Brukner

Quantum coherent effects in cosmology

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Squeezing of dark matter

Theoretical demonstration of unavoidable squeezing in Axion-like dark matter models.

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Bloch oscillations in cosmology

Demonstration of possible quantum coherent oscillations in cosmological models for inflation.

Work in collaboration with A. Loeb

Opto-mechanics

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Generating optomechanical entanglement

Demonstrating how pulsed opto-mechanics and measurements can create robust macroscopic entanglement.

Work in collaboration with group of M. Vanner
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Pulsed Quantum Opto-mechanics

First proposal for pulsed regime of opto-mechanics for quantum state tomography and projective quantum state preparation.

Work in collaboration with M. Aspelmeyer, in group of Č. Brukner

Past and present research funding

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Pikovski Quantum Lab

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