ESO White Paper on Intensity Interferometry: Cosmology, Fundamental Physics, Quantum Optics

TL;DR

This white paper discusses how recent advances in intensity interferometry can revolutionize cosmology, fundamental physics, and quantum astrophysics by enabling high-resolution measurements and probing quantum properties of light.

Contribution

It highlights new scientific opportunities enabled by technological advances in intensity interferometry for cosmology and quantum astrophysics.

Findings

Potential to measure the Universe's expansion rate.

Ability to probe dark matter via astrometric lensing.

Access to quantum coherence properties of astrophysical light.

Abstract

In this whitepaper, we outline how recent technological advances and ongoing developments open qualitatively new science opportunities in cosmology, fundamental physics, and quantum astrophysics. First, intensity interferometry can contribute to one of the most foundational observables in cosmology: the expansion rate of the Universe. Its angular resolution allows it to resolve the angular extent of extragalactic objects such as supernovae or quasars; combined with a physical scale local to the source, this yields an angular diameter distance and hence a 'Hubble diagram'. Second, the nature of dark matter can be probed via the astrometric lensing signatures of tiny dark matter halos. Third, intensity interferometry gives direct access to second-order coherence properties of astrophysical emission, opening a window onto genuinely quantum aspects of astrophysical light.