Abstract Investigating and verifying the connections between the foundations of quantum mechanics and general relativity will require extremely sensitive quantum experiments. To provide ultimate insight into this fascinating area of physics, the realization of dedicated experiments in space will sooner or later become a necessity. Quantum technologies, and among them quantum memories in particular, are providing novel approaches to reach conclusive experimental results due to their advanced state of development backed by decades of progress. Storing quantum states for prolonged time will make it possible to study Bell tests on astronomical baselines, to increase measurement precision for investigations of gravitational effects on quantum systems, or enable distributed networks of quantum sensors and clocks. We here promote the case of exploiting quantum memories for fundamental physics in space, and discuss both distinct experiments as well as potential quantum memory platforms and their performance.
Abstract Investigating and verifying the connections between the foundations of quantum mechanics and general relativity will require extremely sensitive quantum experiments. To provide ultimate insight into this fascinating area of physics, the realization of dedicated experiments in space will sooner or later become a necessity. Quantum technologies, and among them quantum memories in particular, are providing novel approaches to reach conclusive experimental results due to their advanced state of development backed by decades of progress. Storing quantum states for prolonged time will make it possible to study Bell tests on astronomical baselines, to increase measurement precision for investigations of gravitational effects on quantum systems, or enable distributed networks of quantum sensors and clocks. We here promote the case of exploiting quantum memories for fundamental physics in space, and discuss both distinct experiments as well as potential quantum memory platforms and their performance.
Investigations into the foundations of quantum mechanics and their link to gravity and general relativity require sensitive quantum experiments. To provide ultimate insight, the realization of such experiments in space will sooner or later become a necessity. With their advanced state and backed by decades of development, quantum technologies and among them quantum memories are providing novel approaches to reach conclusive experimental results. We therefore want to highlight the use case of quantum memories for investigations of fundamental physics in space, and discuss both concrete experiments as well as platforms and performance of candidate quantum memories
"What are atoms doing in space anyways?" This talk will provide a brief overview of applications of quantum technologies in space ranging from precise timing and inertial measurements to fundamental physics. Quantum technologies have seen a wide field of applications in medicine, geosciences, computing and communications, in many cases bridging the gap from laboratory experiments to commercial products in the last decade. For terrestrial applications that is. But what about going to space? Quantum physics based sensors and experiments promise higher accuracy, sensitivity or better long term stability as they rely on immutable properties of atoms. When properly manipulated, these (ultra-)cold atoms are likely to outperform state of the art instruments. Experiments conducted on sounding rockets demonstrated important steps like Bose-Einstein Condensate creation during a few minutes in microgravity, enabling more advanced quantum experiments in the future. The International Space Station and the Tiangong Space Station host dedicated experiments like ultrastable clocks as well as flexible research infrastructure for fundamental research benefitting from long free-fall times. However, the deployment of such technologies on satellites is not as advanced. Satellite missions utilizing quantum sensors or performing long term experiments are subject to studies and proposals backed by a broad scientific community aiming at better understanding of climate change, interplanetary navigation or tests of general relativity. First steps towards realization of such missions are taken by ESA, NASA and various national space agencies as well as universities funded by national agencies or the EU. This talk will detect the current state of atoms in space and give an overview of active programs to deploy quantum sensors on operational satellite missions. The focus is on future applications in geosciences and related fields employing the same technology.
Space has always been a primary source of inspiration for the development of the scientific, technological, artistic, philosophical and religious thinking of the whole humankind. Space explorations marked the history of the XX century, bringing an incredible technological advancement and allowing to investigate the natural phenomena over scales and into details which are simply not available on Earth. Nowadays, the Space is the benchmark of the new quantum revolution, which promises to change the way we communicate, measure and calculate, thank to the exploitation and the control of what happens at the microscopic scale. Indeed, the quantum theory, born at the beginning of the XX century to describe the behavior of the elementary particles of Nature, has reached today an incredible reliability. As any scientific theory, Quantum Mechanics is valid within the limits in which it has been experimentally verified, and the Space is the main stage where to validate quantum predictions at large scales, in a domain that is completely different with respect to the microscopic one from which it moved. The technological advances in photonics, which allows the manipulation and the control of the single quanta of light, the photons, make today feasible fundamental tests of Quantum Mechanics in Space, experiments to investigate, for example, if entanglement is preserved along thousands of kilometers or if the wave-particle duality survives even after a Space trip. Furthermore, Space makes available relativistic regimes, in which the velocities and the distances could allow to experimentally investigate the unresolved puzzle of modern physics, that is, the interplay between Quantum Mechanics and gravitation. For these reasons, this thesis is dedicated to the Quantum Optics experiment in Space I have been involved during my PhD.
Quantum physics has transitioned from a purely theoretical discipline to a transformative technological foundation influencing modern space science and engineering. From ultra-precise atomic clocks enabling global navigation systems to quantum sensors enhancing spacecraft navigation and quantum communication networks promising unbreakable encryption, quantum mechanics now plays a pivotal role in space technology. This research paper explores the theoretical foundations of quantum physics and examines its applications in satellite systems, deep-space exploration, communication networks, gravitational sensing, propulsion research, and cosmology. It further discusses current missions led by agencies such as NASA, European Space Agency, and China National Space Administration, highlighting advancements in space-based quantum experiments. The paper concludes with future prospects, technical challenges, and the role of quantum technology in shaping next-generation space exploration.
This paper investigates the potential of utilizing quantum memory for quantum information storage. Quantum memory offers a pathway towards robust and scalable quantum computing and communication by providing a means to retain quantum information, a fundamental requirement for any quantum technology. This work explores various mechanisms leveraging quantum effects within specific materials and systems to achieve long-term quantum storage. We examine theoretical frameworks and discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with developing practical quantum memory systems. The core claim is to explore the feasibility of using quantum memory for quantum information storage, focusing on the underlying mechanisms of maintaining quantum coherence. Key areas of investigation include coherence preservation strategies, error correction techniques specifically tailored for quantum memory, and the selection of appropriate materials exhibiting suitable quantum properties for enhanced storage duration. The ultimate goal is to lay the groundwork for future research into constructing stable and reliable quantum memory devices, crucial for realizing the full potential of quantum information processing. ---
Abstract Quantum technologies are opening novel avenues for applied and fundamental science at an impressive pace. In this perspective article, we focus on the promises coming from the combination of quantum technologies and space science to test the very foundations of quantum physics and, possibly, new physics. In particular, we survey the field of mesoscopic superpositions of nanoparticles and the potential of interferometric and non-interferometric experiments in space for the investigation of the superposition principle of quantum mechanics and the quantum-to-classical transition. We delve into the possibilities offered by the state-of-the-art of nanoparticle physics projected in the space environment and discuss the numerous challenges, and the corresponding potential advancements, that the space environment presents. In doing this, we also offer an ab-initio estimate of the potential of space-based interferometry with some of the largest systems ever considered and show that there is room for tests of quantum mechanics at an unprecedented level of detail.