Southwest Quantum Information and Technology

Locally covariant approach to relativistic quantum metrology

Presenting Author: Jim van Meter, National Institute for Standards and Technology
Contributing Author(s): Anthony Downes, Gerard Milburn, Carlton Caves, Emanuel Knill

A general, parameter-based uncertainty relation for quantum measurement of the classical gravitational field is derived. For this purpose, the locally covariant formulation of quantum field theory in a perturbed background spacetime is used. In this framework, the Cramer-Rao bound on estimation of the perturbation parameter is calculated, and shown to be coordinate invariant. The method is then applied to laser-interferometric detection of gravitational waves, and shown to be consistent with the expected shot noise limit.

(Session 5 : Thursday from 5:00 - 7:00 pm)