Agnesi Costantino, Vedovato Francesco, Schiavon Matteo, Dequal Daniele, Calderaro Luca, Tomasin Marco, Marangon Davide G, Stanco Andrea, Luceri Vincenza, Bianco Giuseppe, Vallone Giuseppe, Villoresi Paolo
Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Matera Laser Ranging Observatory, Italian Space Agency, 75100 Matera, Italy.
Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2018 Jul 13;376(2123). doi: 10.1098/rsta.2017.0461.
Recent interest in quantum communications has stimulated great technological progress in satellite quantum technologies. These advances have rendered the aforesaid technologies mature enough to support the realization of experiments that test the foundations of quantum theory at unprecedented scales and in the unexplored space environment. Such experiments, in fact, could explore the boundaries of quantum theory and may provide new insights to investigate phenomena where gravity affects quantum objects. Here, we review recent results in satellite quantum communications and discuss possible phenomena that could be observable with current technologies. Furthermore, stressing the fact that space represents an incredible resource to realize new experiments aimed at highlighting some physical effects, we challenge the community to propose new experiments that unveil the interplay between quantum mechanics and gravity that could be realizable in the near future.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary society'.
近期对量子通信的关注推动了卫星量子技术的巨大技术进步。这些进展使上述技术足够成熟，能够支持开展实验，以前所未有的规模并在未探索的空间环境中测试量子理论的基础。事实上，此类实验可以探索量子理论的边界，并可能为研究引力影响量子物体的现象提供新的见解。在此，我们回顾卫星量子通信的近期成果，并讨论当前技术可能观测到的现象。此外，强调空间是实现旨在突出某些物理效应的新实验的绝佳资源这一事实，我们向学界发起挑战，提出新的实验，揭示量子力学与引力之间的相互作用，且这些实验在不久的将来即可实现。本文是讨论会议议题“量子力学基础及其对当代社会的影响”的一部分。
