QMTS - Quantum Mechanics Trieste

Quantum mechanics is the most successful theory ever. It has explained the structure matter from the atomic to the sub-nuclear scale, and has given rise to revolutionary technologies. At the same time, it has been plagued with fundamental problems, which are still under debate. Most of them revolve around the following issues: quantum linearity, entanglement and nonlocality, the role of coherence and decoherence in many particle systems, the lack of a mathematically consistent quantum field theory, the unification with gravity.

The clarification of these issues is crucial, as it lies at the basis of our understanding of nature. With this comes the development of mathematical techniques which are generally applicable in all areas of science in which macroscopic behaviour is ruled by microscopic constituents, as is the case with financial mathematics, biophysics and biomathematics.

Several milestones characterize the development of quantum foundations. Among them, Bell’s inequalities established the nonlocal nature of quantum mechanics, leading to a new class of experiments. Also they triggered new fields such as quantum information, computation, cryptography. Bohmian mechanics and collapse models have proven that mathematically consistent formulations of quantum mechanics are possible. Decoherence has been understood as being basic to the emergence of classicality in a quantum universe. Semiclassical and adiabatic theory led to effective descriptions of complex quantum systems.

Active research of the European groups working in quantum foundations concerns: Bell-type inequalities and loophole free experimental verifications; interference experiments with macro molecules, theoretical and experimental analysis of collapse models and Bohmian mechanics; relativistic extensions of collapse models and Bohmian mechanics; emergence of classicality and semiclassical analysis in complex systems; models of decoherence and its influence on experiments; non-Markovian dynamics; quantum measurement theory; quantum gravity.

Europe has a longstanding tradition in the foundations of quantum mechanics. The quantum foundations community consisting of theoretical, experimental, mathematical physicists, quantum chemists, is constantly active in scientific collaborations, and will continue to be. Their activity will include the organization of conferences and meetings. Their joint work will be crucial for advancing the field, increasing the impact of the research of the single groups, creating a network where young researchers can look for new opportunities.

The COST action is particularly suited for increasing and strengthening the community, and for enhancing its capabilities.

The fundamental character of the project is innovative and its scientific benefits are immense, with impacts on many fields. The interaction with the mathematical physics community will enhance the application of advanced stochastic tools. The interaction with the experimental physics community will trigger new experimental research. The research of the Action will lead to a new understanding of quantum effects, to a better understanding of complex systems like chemical and biological processes, to cutting edge experiments and to a novel understanding of Nature.

Particular attention will be given to young researchers. They will benefit from a stronger and more efficient network of scientists working on quantum foundations. This will increase mobility, and the possibilities for future career. Special attention will be given to gender balance, enhancing the involvement of women scientists in the Action. This has already started observing the composition of the group of initial participants.

The network has strong interactions with excellent non-European groups working on quantum foundations, in the USA, in Brazil, Mexico, India.

Sustain and enhance scientific research in foundational problems in quantum mechanics.
Strengthen the collaboration between the mathematical, theoretical and experimental communities.
Develop treatable models for understanding the transition from microscopic quantum systems to the macroscopic world.
Support young researchers and dissemination of the results.

Cutting edge experiments will question the universal validity of quantum mechanics.
New mathematical models will clarify the micro to macro transition.
New mathematical techniques will be applicable in other areas of science.

More ambitiously, we aim at a deeper, clearer understanding of the quantum world.

Scientific publications in high impact international journals.
Conferences, workshops and schools where the topics will be discussed and disseminated.
Short term scientific missions.
Books and reports.
Common network website.

Our network will have competences which cover most of the spectrum of scientific research. This diversity will guarantee the required exchange of ideas and techniques to meet the objectives of the project. Each group will benefit from the expertise of the other groups, and together they will boost the dissemination of the results

Scientific program and innovation

In order to meet the goals of the project, the following program will be implemented, broken down node by node.

A. Bassi (UniTs, Trieste) and C. Curceanu (INFN-LNF, Frascati) - Theoretical, phenomenological and experimental analysis of collapse models: study of the SDEs describing the collapse process; elaboration of more refined models; experimental tests.

I. Burghardt (ENS, Paris): Decoherence and the classical limit in molecular systems, from the viewpoint of Bohmian mechanics and its generalization to mixed states. Non-Markovian description of ultrafast processes in chemistry and biology.

L. Diosi (RMKI, Budapest): Theories of quantum systems under various collapse mechanisms, extending from the hypothetic (e.g.: gravity related) ones to those caused by laboratory devices monitoring the wave function. Development beyond the Markovian approximation.

F. Dowker (Imperial College, London): Development of Quantum Measure Theory and the rigorous derivation of the measure for Quantum Mechanics analogous to the Wiener measure for Brownian motion. Application to the problem of quantum gravity.

D. Duerr (LMU, Munich) and N. Zanghì (UniGe, Genoa): Theoretical and experimental analysis of time measurements in quantum mechanics. Development of relativistic Bohmian mechanics.

B.C. Hiesmayr (University of Vienna): Theoretical and phenomenological studies of quantum mechanical phenomena (Bell inequalities, decoherence models or quantum marking and eraser procedures) in high energy physics. Working out realisable proposals for near future experiments.

S. Miret (CSIC, Madrid): Quantum interference and diffraction with wave packets to be applied in Optics, atom-surface scattering, scattering with barriers, chemical reaction with tunneling. Stochastic quantum trajectories to be applied to the diffusion of adsorbates on surfaces.

W. Struyve (University of Leuven): Development of relativistic and field theoretic Bohmian mechanics. Exploration of non-equilibrium Bohmian mechanics and empirical implications.

S. Teufel (University of Tuebingen): Adiabatic and semiclassical limits in Bohmian mechanics. Relation between non-adiabatic behavior, decoherence and friction in models for non-relativistic QED.

New understanding of quantum phenomena.
New experiments testing quantum mechanics on larger scales.
New approaches to quantum physics. In particular: application of Bohmian mechanics to time measurements and high energy physics; new collapse models; new approaches to quantum gravity.
New advanced stochastic and geometric tools in physics.
New models and analysis of the description of the micro to macro transition.
Development of non-Markovian descriptions in quantum mechanics. Application to decoherence theory, ultrafast chemical and biological processes, and other fields

Our network will have the structure, competences and ambition to achieve the declared goals and to reach a breakthrough in our understanding of the quantum universe.

WG1: Quantum Theory without Observers.
WG2: Effective Descriptions of Complex Systems.
WG3: Quantum Theory meets Relativity.
WG4: From Theory to Experiments.

The WG leaders, the STSM coordinator, the MC Chair and MC Deputy Chair, will be elected by the Management Committee (MC) at the kickoff meeting, to be held at the start of the Action.

The MC will supervise the overall progress of the Action. The MC will be supported by a secretary. The MC-chair, vice-chair and the four WG-leaders will constitute the leading structure of the Action.

The MC and WGs will generally meet twice a year. Meetings will occur along with a conference, workshop or summer school open to persons outside the Action.

A website will be created, to disseminate and promote the activity of the Action and of the network.

[1] www.qmts.it/network.html
[2] J.S. Bell, “Speakable and unspeakable in quantum mechanics”, CUP (2004).
[3] “What don’t we know?”, Science 309 (2005) 98.
[4] A. Leggett, “The Measurement problem”, Science 307 (2005) 871.
[5] S.L. Adler, A. Bassi, “Is quantum theory exact?”, Science 325 (2009) 275.
[6] Special Issue “The Quantum Universe”, Journ. Phys. A 40 (2007). S.L. Adler, A. Bassi, F. Dowker and D. Duerr eds.
[7] D. Duerr, S. Teufel: "Bohmian mechanics", Springer (2009).
[8] L. Diosi: "A Short Course in Quantum Information Theory - An Approach From Theoretical Physics" Lecture Notes in Physics 713, Springer (2007).
[9] I. Burghardt et al., “Energy Transfer Dynamics in Biomaterial Systems”, Springer (2009).