Fluctuations of spacetime and holographic noise in atomic interferometry

TL;DR

This paper explores holographic noise arising from quantum gravity-inspired spacetime fluctuations, discussing their effects on quantum systems and potential detection via atomic interferometry and gravitational wave experiments.

Contribution

It reviews and analyzes models of holographic noise affecting quantum systems, proposing atomic interferometry as a method to test these quantum gravity effects.

Findings

Holographic noise can cause metric fluctuations impacting quantum coherence.

Atomic interferometry can potentially detect holographic noise effects.

The study links holographic noise to unexplained signals in gravitational wave detectors.

Abstract

Space--time can be understood as some kind of space--time foam of fluctuating bubbles or loops which are expected to be an outcome of a theory of quantum gravity. One recently discussed model for this kind of space--time fluctuations is the holographic principle which allows to deduce the structure of these fluctuations. We review and discuss two scenarios which rely on the holographic principle leading to holographic noise. One scenario leads to fluctuations of the space--time metric affecting the dynamics of quantum systems: (i) an apparent violation of the equivalence principle, (ii) a modification of the spreading of wave packets, and (iii) a loss of quantum coherence. All these effects can be tested with cold atoms. These tests would supplement measurements of a so called ``mystery noise'' at the gravitational wave detector GEO600 which was recently speculated to have its origin in holographic noise.