Project description
Exploring the intersection of gravity and quantum mechanics at tiny masses
Understanding how gravity and quantum mechanics interact is one of the greatest challenges in physics: testing these theories together at tiny scales is extremely difficult. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the mGramm project will help bridge this gap by developing an experiment to measure gravitational forces from masses as small as 10 mg – the smallest to record. mGramm will use advanced cavity optomechanics, contrary to previous experiments that involved large, non-quantum objects or lacked the ability to prepare quantum states. The proposed approach will enable both the source and test masses to potentially reach non-classical (quantum) states. mGramm could help push gravity experiments into the quantum realm, providing critical insights into the elusive connection between quantum mechanics and gravity.
Objective
Combining general relativity and quantum mechanics into one unified theory remains a major unsolved problem in physics, in particular due to the lack of experimental data. Probing systems on Planck scales, in which both gravity and quantum theory predict comparable effects, seems unfeasible in the near future. This motivates the idea of investigating the quantum-gravity interface by measuring the gravitational interaction between two small masses with the eventual goal of placing these masses in quantum states. Laboratory-scale experiments in the last four years include kg-sized masses influencing levitating particles, or torsion pendulum experiments, which have shown the gravitational interaction between 90 mg gold spheres. However, such experiments are not designed to reach the quantum regime because either one of the objects is extremely large and thus clearly non-quantum, or the system is not designed to prepare objects in their motional ground state. Here, I propose mGramm: Measuring the Gravitational Attraction of Milligram Masses. Within this project, I will develop and execute an experiment to measure the gravity originating from masses down to 10 mg, the smallest to record. At the same time, mGramm will move gravity experiments into the world of cavity optomechanics, which promises a direct path to systems in which both source and test mass are in non-classical states. The project builds upon this scientifically highly relevant topic with a multi-level dissemination plan to bring this fundamental research to as broad an audience as possible, while also acting as a training program for myself to improve my skills as a productive scientist in academia.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.