EXC 201:  QUEST - Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Particles, Nuclei and Fields
• Term: from 2007 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 38928778

The cluster of excellence QUEST combining two important directions of physical science, quantum engineering and space-time research, will meet to form a new avenue for multidisciplinary research at the Leibniz Universität Hannover. The symbioses of top-level research on both fields will allow for the development of new concepts to explore fundamental unsolved issues of quantum mechanics and gravity. The idea of combining quantum engineering and space-time research is based upon the tremendous progress in theoretical and experimental research on the quantum nature of light and matter wave fields, which has advanced the new field of quantum engineering to an unforeseen level of art. This fast progress has opened new horizons in quantum metrology for testing fundamental physical laws, reaching unprecedented levels of precision in measurements of space and time and applying sensors based on these novel quantum technologies in global geodesy, inertial sensing, navigation and laser ranging.
QUEST will concentrate on the advancement of quantum engineering and spacetime research to gain a better understanding of the underlying physics and to improve or utilise resulting innovative methods in fundamental physics and applied fields. Accordingly, the activities of QUEST will focus on four areas of research: Quantum Engineering, Quantum Sensors, Space-Time Physics and Enabling Technologies.
The implementation of new concepts on interferometry and atomic quantum sensors will initiate technology development in precision optics, quantum electronics, lasers, new materials and new optical designs and hence form an excellent basis for cooperation with industry. To perform top-level research, QUEST unites the expertise of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover in the fields of quantum optics, condensed matter physics, gravitational physics, theoretical physics, geodesy and mathematics with the competence of excellent partner institutions in its vicinity, namely Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, gravitational wave detector GEO600, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V., Centre of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity and excellent industrial partners.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence
• Applicant Institution: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
• Participating Institution: Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH); Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB); Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR); Standort Bremen; Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik; (Albert-Einstein-Institut); Standort Hannover; Universität Bremen; Fachgebiet Strömungsmechanik; Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie ; und Mikrogravitation (ZARM)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Ertmer
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Bruce Allen; Professor Dr. Boris Chichkov; Professor Dr. Karsten Danzmann; Professor Dr. Hansjörg Dittus; Professor Dr. Domenico Giulini; Professor Dr. Klemens Hammerer; Professor Dr. Rolf J. Haug; Professorin Dr. Michèle Heurs; Professor Dr. Olaf Lechtenfeld; Professor Dr. Claus Lämmerzahl; Professorin Dr. Tanja E. Mehlstäubler; Professor Dr. Uwe Morgner; Professor Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller; Professorin Dr. Silke Ospelkaus; Professor Dr. Christian Ospelkaus; Dr. Maria Alessandra Papa; Privatdozent Dr. Ekkehard Peik; Professor Dr. Ernst Maria Rasel; Professor Dr. Fritz Riehle; Professor Dr. Luis Santos; Professor Dr. Piet Oliver Schmidt; Professor Dr. Roman Schnabel; Professor Dr. Bernard Schutz; Professor Dr. Reinhard F. Werner