Multi-Path Interference Tests of Quantum Mechanics

• Applicant: Professor Alexander Szameit, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2016 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 282462986

Quantum mechanics is one of the most successful theories in physics, governing practically all processes in the microscopic world and even affecting many phenomena on a mesoscopic scale. Its predictions have been in excellent agreement with all experimental observations made throughout what has been almost an entire century. Furthermore, quantum mechanics is the ba-sis of many modern technologies like microelectronics. It is therefore of utmost importance to know the limits of the theory. One of the theorys key features is interference: if a particle can follow multiple paths towards a destination, all of these possibilities need to be taken into account to determine the chance of it ending up at the destination. However, this interference only considers all possible combinations of pairs of paths, but not three or more at a time. Our experiments using modern optical wave-guide technology will test very precisely whether particles of light actually behave as quantum mechanics predicts, or whether there are deviations. At the same time we will explore theoreti-cally how alternative theories could look like and how their predictions could be tested.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Caslav Brukner; Professor Dr. Gregor Weihs