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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
That's not what quantum tunneling is. Tunneling has to do with the phase-state of particles, and how it implicates their ability to cross force barriers that should reverse them under classical understanding.
It's a bit like if your car blinked into and out of existence every couple seconds, you could sometimes drive through a brick wall.
The zero point field?
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
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.
Argh, it's like I've been sucked into Star Trek, and everyone just uses science terms for whatever, as if they're all related.
No. Not the zero point field. Not at all.
Well duh. Zero point devices are for powering the Atlantis.
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
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.
Related news: How faster-than-light travel can be created in a reflected sunlight spot.
Except that they will only be tiny little blobs of quantum stuff.
I'd like to see them try to keep curved spacetime OUT of a lab.
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?
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!
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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.
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 feel that analogy might just be more complicated than the actual math.
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.
or Syndrome, defeating the Incredibles.
Anyway, I'm not aware of many other instances where particles wink in and out of existence (virtual particles)
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
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).
I was under the impression that quantum tunneling more has to do with quantum level stuff having a chance to appear any where in the universe, but has a much higher chance of appearing near its current location. If a location is impossible to get to via classical means, that doesn't stop the fact that the particle may just appear where by chance.
My very layman's understanding that may be quite wrong. Yes? No?
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.
You even provided a car analogy...
Pearls before swine, I guess.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.