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SPIE Quantum Technologies

Quantum memories for fundamental physics in space

Jan‐Michael Mol, Luisa Esguerra, Matthias Meister, Janik Wolters, Lisa Wörner

Published Aug 3, 2022• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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

DOI
10.1117/12.2622470

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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.
"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.
From the very beginning, Quantum Mechanics has been accompanied by crucial foundational questions: the possibility of visualizing physical processes, the limits of measurement epitomized by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the existence of a deeper underlying reality with additional degrees of freedom, the role of measurements, and the status of locality. Long regarded as philosophical speculations, these issues were progressively reformulated into precise mathematical statements and ultimately subjected to experimental verification. The trajectory proved unpredictable: questions once dismissed as metaphysical gave rise to experimental platforms, which in turn matured into devices and technologies powering quantum computation, communication, and sensing. Yet this development is not unidirectional: advances in technology also feed back into foundations, enabling tests of principles that were previously out of reach, for example, whether quantum superposition persists at larger and larger scales and whether reality, gravity included, is fundamentally quantum. In this way, the dialogue between foundational inquiry and technological progress continues to shape both our theoretical understanding and the practical realization of quantum phenomena.
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. ---
It has recently been theoretically shown that Quantum Memories (QM) could enable truly global quantum networking when deployed in space thereby surpassing the limited range of land-based quantum repeaters. Furthermore, QM in space could enable novel protocols and long-range entanglement and teleportation applications suitable for Deep-Space links and extended scenarios for fundamental physics tests. In this white paper we will make the case for the importance of deploying QMs to space, and also discuss the major technical milestones and development stages that will need to be considered.
Recent interest in quantum communications has stimulated great technological progress in satellite quantum technologies. These advances have rendered the aforesaid technologies mature enough to support the realization of experiments that test the foundations of quantum theory at unprecedented scales and in the unexplored space environment. Such experiments, in fact, could explore the boundaries of quantum theory and may provide new insights to investigate phenomena where gravity affects quantum objects. Here, we review recent results in satellite quantum communications and discuss possible phenomena that could be observable with current technologies. Furthermore, stressing the fact that space represents an incredible resource to realize new experiments aimed at highlighting some physical effects, we challenge the community to propose new experiments that unveil the interplay between quantum mechanics and gravity that could be realizable in the near future.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary society'.