Prof. Ivette Fuentes (University of Nottingham, University of Vienna and Penrose Institute)

Quantum sensors that are used to measure gravitational fields and detect dark energy typically use single particle interferometric techniques that are limited by the time of flight in the interferometer arm.  In this talk I will present a new detection method that uses quantum resonances and the sensitivity of collective excitations (phonons) to gravitational fields. When phonons in a Bose-Einstein condensate are initially prepared in a squeezed state, spacetime distortions can create additional excitations through parametric amplification. This effect can be used to detect gravitational waves at high frequencies. We have also developed a phonon based scheme to estimate spacetime parameters, miniaturize devices to measure gravitational fields and gradients and set further constrains on dark matter/energy models.

Location: Shilling LT