Skip to content Skip to footer
Close

Next steps towards a quantum physics platform in space

Place:
Olomouc (Czech Republic)
Date:
April 11, 2019

The goal of the meeting is to foster the formation of a consortium to push the future implementation of a space mission to test the foundations of physics. Particular effort will be put on discussing necessary technology developments in the handling of high-mass test particles and in assuring the required environmental conditions for macroscopic quantum experiments in space.

In 2017, the topic of testing quantum physics in space with a focus on the boundaries of and the relationship between quantum and classical physics, in particular investigating the aspects known as quantum decoherence, was selected as a topic of interest in the context of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) call for New Science Ideas.

As a result, a detailed feasibility study was performed in 2018 at ESA’s Concurrent Design Facility. While the study confirmed the feasibility of the mission concept, it also identified two critical issues that will need to be addressed in future mission proposals.

At the meeting in Olomouc, the goal is to discuss these critical issues, to foster the formation of a consortium to push the future implementation of a space mission to test the foundations of physics. Particular effort will be put on discussing necessary technology developments in the handling of high-mass test particles and in assuring the required environmental conditions for macroscopic quantum experiments in space.