MeAsurement of Gravitational effects on photonIc QUantum systEm

The interplay between the two main pillars of physics ─ quantum mechanics (QM) and general relativity (GR) ─ has never been understood or tested by scientists, and this has become one of the most important, interesting and challenging research areas over the past decades.

So far there is no experiment demonstrating how gravity affects unique quantum features, e.g. superposition and entanglement.

This project is aimed to combine quantum interference and GR in a single table-top experiment using Mach-Zehnder fiber interferometry.

Single photons and entanglement states will be employed to investigate how gravity alters quantum correlations and superposition of massless particles.It would be a great scientific breakthrough to demonstrate gravitational-induced effects on single photons and quantum states, paving the way for quantum gravitational lab-scale experiments.

This project will push large-scale high-precision single photon interferometry to a new level, leading to the development of cutting-edge techniques from various disciplines ─ quantum photonics, precision interferometry, frequency metrology, etc.

This study is timely and highly relevant to the current EU research trends, going in line with the prioritized research directions of Horizon Europe: quantum technologies and time & frequency services.This project will be implemented in the group of Prof. Philip Walther at the University of Vienna.

The host group expertise in quantum control and their state-of-the-art single photon facilities perfectly complements to the Researcher Dr. Yu’s background in interferometric gravitational wave detection and macroscopic QM phenomena. This Fellowship will enable the two parties to combine their skills and achieve the major scientific goals.

Furthermore, this Fellowship will greatly improve Dr.

Yu’s leadership skills, strongly diversify her knowledge, establish new academic links and boost her track record that would have a significant impact on her academic career.