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How Curved Spacetime Can Be Created In a Quantum Optics Lab
KentuckyFC writes: One way to explore the link between quantum mechanics and general relativity is to study the physics that occurs on a small scale in highly curved spacetimes. However, these conditions only occur in the most extreme environments such as at the edge of black holes or in the instants after the Big Bang. But now one physicist has described how it is possible to create curved spacetime in an ordinary quantum optics lab.
The idea is based on optical lattices, which form when a pair of lasers interfere to create an eggbox-like interference pattern. When ultracold atoms are dropped into the lattice, they become trapped like ping pong balls in an eggbox. This optical trapping technique is common in labs all over the world. However, the ultracold atoms do not stay at a fixed location in the lattice because they can tunnel from one location to another. This tunneling is a form of movement through the lattice and can be controlled by changing the laser parameters to make tunneling easier or more difficult.
Now, a physicist has shown that on a large scale, the tunneling motion of atoms through the lattice is mathematically equivalent to the motion of atoms in a quantum field in a flat spacetime. And that means it is possible to create a formal analogue of a curved spacetime by changing the laser parameters across the lattice. Varying the laser parameters over time even simulates the behavior of gravitational waves. Creating this kind of curved spacetime in the lab won't reveal any new physics but it will allow researchers to study the behavior of existing laws under these conditions for the first time. That's not been possible even in theory because the equations that describe these behaviors are so complex that they can only be solved in the simplest circumstances.
The idea is based on optical lattices, which form when a pair of lasers interfere to create an eggbox-like interference pattern. When ultracold atoms are dropped into the lattice, they become trapped like ping pong balls in an eggbox. This optical trapping technique is common in labs all over the world. However, the ultracold atoms do not stay at a fixed location in the lattice because they can tunnel from one location to another. This tunneling is a form of movement through the lattice and can be controlled by changing the laser parameters to make tunneling easier or more difficult.
Now, a physicist has shown that on a large scale, the tunneling motion of atoms through the lattice is mathematically equivalent to the motion of atoms in a quantum field in a flat spacetime. And that means it is possible to create a formal analogue of a curved spacetime by changing the laser parameters across the lattice. Varying the laser parameters over time even simulates the behavior of gravitational waves. Creating this kind of curved spacetime in the lab won't reveal any new physics but it will allow researchers to study the behavior of existing laws under these conditions for the first time. That's not been possible even in theory because the equations that describe these behaviors are so complex that they can only be solved in the simplest circumstances.
Stop making my brain hurt!
Because there's one on every block! 7-11 has real competition now!
BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
OK, so they found something that, according to their models, is a model for curved spacetime. Why not just use the original model?
Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
If he can control the tunneling of entire atoms hasn't he just invented a teleporter?
Since all mass curves spacetime I can curve spacetime simply by existing and being a bit overweight. Its just too bad that I'll have to wait until 2015 for the nobel prize!
C'mon, get to the important part. How long until this gives us warp drive or a time machine?
Chelloveck
I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
Now, a physicist has shown that on a large scale, the tunneling motion of atoms through the lattice is mathematically equivalent to the motion of atoms in a quantum field in a flat spacetime.
mathematically equivalent ?
So they haven't created curved spacetime in a Quantum Optics Lab. They have done something that is a model of how they think curved space time would behave.
I for one look forward to our Wormhole X-treme overlords, and as a respected Slashdot poster can be useful in rounding up slaves to toil in their underground optics labs.
Related news: How faster-than-light travel can be created in a reflected sunlight spot.
This is potentially amazing stuff, yet given the negative quality of the feedback here, one can only hope the Spacetime curve hits home and you all end up in the Nexus, happily ever after...
I'd like to see them try to keep curved spacetime OUT of a lab.
And the name of his laser contraption is "The Way-Back Machine". It didn't mention his trusted assistant.
I don't want to have to memorize a bunch of new kings.
Creating this kind of curved spacetime in the lab won't reveal any new physics but it will allow researchers to study the behavior of existing laws under these conditions for the first time. That's not been possible even in theory because the equations that describe these behaviors are so complex that they can only be solved in the simplest circumstances.
Are they talking about general relativity equations?
That's "simulate", not "create"
ordinary quantum optics lab
Something about the wording in that phrase gives me the urge to search Instructables for a how-to...
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Komptria!
Indeed.
Jaffa kree!
Sha'kaaaaaaaaaaaa.
If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, the meal was cooked a long time ago.
Does it say "Colonel" anywhere on my uniform?
I don't want to have to memorize a bunch of new kings.
Grow a pair and move to the US of A.
Here, the only king you need to memorize is the Almighty Dollar.
A site with original content would be nice. Reinvented-wheel-infused js-infested wordsoup shaken out of someone else's publications really isn't my cup of tea.
So they made an analog that pretty well simulates curved spacetime. It's not actually curved spacetime. And here I was hoping the iPhone 7 would run off of a Stargate SG1 Zero Point Module made out of infinitely bent space :(
I expect there will be wide variations from theory in the results of this experiment. There have been multiple measurements of ether drift over the last century that show that space does not simply curve, it flows. All arguments against the ether drift measurements of Dayton Miller are fishy: Those that say the measurements were caused by heating ignore the fact that the heating cycle would not coincide with an ether drift measurement of absolute spatial velocity. Those that claim that the statistical significance requirements were not met do not account for the other measurements using different techniques and that statistical significance calculations have not changed in the past century.
Google: Sarg Modern Ether Drift Experiments.
Not sure the best terms for this but... I've noticed a lot of non physical theories (space time, dark matter(though this is only non physical in the sense we haven't seen it yet), dark energy) require manipulation of physical materials to produce the expected results. I still wonder if we will eventually see these theories get an actual physical source. Just my bent $0.02.
Is that you, Sheldon??
Which is kind-of-a shame, since I'd have liked them, sunny side up.
The equations that describe these behaviors are so complex it can only mean that they're not seeing the big picture (whatever that is).
OK, just kidding....I thought somebody might get a laugh out of somebody comparing a high tech optical lab to a common microwave oven :-)
Oops, I somehow used the wrong link twice there. I'll try again:
The innocent-looking but really horrible Einstein equation, and how to solve it numerically on your friendly local supercomputer.
Really excellent succinct and easy to follow summary.
And that on /. of all places, where article summaries usual go to die.
"Hey Baby! My space-time curvature deviates from the standard model... wanna come back to my place and distort physics??"
Go for it, but be careful what you say about your partner's space-time curvature.
If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
I can create inaccurate headlines that model what a exciting story would look like, in a lab. Its not a actual exciting story, but then neither is this.