Testing the limits of quantum mechanics: motivation, state of play, prospects

by Professor Anthony LEGGETT (Physics Nobel Laureate 2003, John D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Chair and Center for Advanced Study Professor of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Thursday 29 Jul 2004, 16:30 → 17:30 Europe/Zurich

500/1-001 - Main Auditorium (CERN)

I present the motivation for experiments which attempt to generate, and verify the existence of, quantum superpositions of two or more states which are by some reasonable criterion 'macroscopically' distinct, and show that various a priori objections to this program made in the literature are flawed. I review the extent to which such experiments currently exist in the areas of free-space molecular diffraction, magnetic biomolecules, quantum optics and Josephson devices, and sketch possible future lines of development of the program.

Organiser(s): Daniel Treille and Guido Altarelli / PH Department


Note: Tea & coffee will be served at 16.00 hrs.

Video in CDS Video in CDS