Quantum Paths Through Space and Time

by Enno Giese (TU Darmstadt)

Thursday 22 Oct 2026, 16:00 → 18:00 Europe/Berlin

D - 120 (ENC)

What happens when a quantum particle takes two different paths through
space and time? In an interferometer, the answer is encoded in the
relative phase of the two matter waves. This makes atom interferometers
powerful tools for precision measurements of inertial effects, external
fields, and fundamental physics.
We introduce the basic principles of matter-wave interferometry and use
them to illustrate how quantum superposition in various degrees of
freedom can be turned into a precision measurement. In atom
interferometers, the accumulated phase encodes information about
external forces, inertial effects, and internal atomic dynamics. This
connects quantum optics to questions at the interface with relativity
and fundamental physics.
We will present recent developments from our work on quantum sensors,
including relativistic effects and quantum clocks, searches for
gravitational waves and dark matter, and atom interferometry in
microgravity and on the International Space Station. In the final part,
we will discuss how these developments open new possibilities for
precision measurements and tests of fundamental physics.