When
Where
Title
Gravity and Macroscopic Quantum Mechanics
Abstract
A pre-eminent problem of modern physics is to reconcile the disparity between the laws of quantum physics – which apply at the small scale – and the laws of gravity – that apply at the large scale. This talk will motivate the nature of the fundamental problem and highlight some of the ideas we are currently pursuing to address it. In particular, a decisive confrontation of gravity and quantum theory calls for mechanical objects, massive enough to measurably gravitate with each other, prepared in quantum states of their motion. We will describe the ideas and the tools that could pave the way towards such an experiment.
Bio
Vivishek Sudhir is the Class of 1957 Career Development Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, a member of the MIT LIGO group, and directs the Quantum & Precision Measurements Group (precision.mit.edu). Vivishek’s research over the past decade has realized the most precise measurement of linear and angular motion, and the most massive quantum states (of a 10 kg object). The research of his group has been featured as Editor’s Pick of the Year by Nature Reviews Physics, multiple times as an Editor’s Suggestion at Physical Review Letters, at Scientific American etc. In 2025 he was a recipient of the NSF CAREER award.
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