WE-Heraeus-Physikschule: Exploring the Limits of the Quantum Superposition Principle

The Wilhelm and Else-Heraeus Physics School on

Exploring the limits of the quantum superposition principle: From matter waves to nanomechanical oscillators

will be held from May 12th to May 17th, 2013 in the Physikzentrum in Bad Honnef, located about 15 km south of Bonn (Germany). It is funded by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.

Aims of the school

We are witnessing an increased interest in probing the foundations of quantum mechanics by experiments that delocalize mechanical degrees of freedom over mesoscopic or even macroscopic scales. The systems considered differ widely, from neutrons delocalized on centimeter scale, over the interference of complex molecules and BECs, to attempts of observing quantum motion in mechanical cantilevers and nanobeads. Given the enormous variation in size, mass, complexity, and temperature scales over many orders of magnitude, it may seem surprising that the underlying physics, as well as the required technologies and theoretical approaches share many features. Examples include the requirements for cooling complex systems, as well as the description of effects of decoherence and non‐standard extensions of quantum mechanics. The school aims at bringing the different communities together to learn from each other and to facilitate a fruitful exchange of ideas between the disciplines.

Topics

Ultrafast electron diffraction
Quantum delocalization in photoionization electrons
Fundamental physics in neutron interferometry
Atom interferometry
BEC interferometry
Delocalized electrons in mesoscopic structures
Quantum states of nanomechanical oscillators
Interference phenomena in phase space
Measures of macroscopicity
Towards quantum delocalization of nanospheres
Spontaneous localization models
Limits of quantum delocalization in semiclassical gravity
Coherence in excitonic systems

The organizers invite PhD students, postdocs, and advanced Master students to apply and to present their own work in poster sessions.

The conference language will be English.

The conference fee of EUR 100,- includes accommodation and meals.

Please note that the total number of participants is limited.

Invited Speakers:

Lectures and lecture titles

1. Peter Hommelhoff, MPQ Garching: Ultrafast electron diffraction

2. Reinhard Dörner, Uni Frankfurt: Quantum delocalization in photoionization electrons

3. Hartmut Abele, TU Wien: Fundamental physics in neutron interferometry

4. Philippe Bouyer, U Bordeaux: Atom interferometry (tbc)

5. Ernst Rasel, U Hannover: BEC Interferometry

6. Stefan Gerlich, Ecole Normale Superieure Paris: Interferometry of high-mass objects

7. Klemens Hammerer, U Hannover: Control of Hybrid Mechanical Systems at the Quantum Limit

8. Dirk Bouwmeester, University of Leiden: Quantum states of nanomechanical oscillators

9. Wolfgang Schleich, U Ulm: Interference phenomena in phase space

10. Stefan Nimmrichter, U Duisburg‐Essen: Measures of macroscopicity

11. Oriol Romero Isart, MPQ Garching: Towards quantum delocalization of nanospheres

12. Angelo Bassi, U Trieste: Spontaneous localization models

13. Domenico Giulini, U Bremen: Limits of quantum delocalization in semiclassical gravity

14. Andreas Buchleitner U Freiburg: Coherence in excitonic systems