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Current projectsHUMOR (funded by Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, since 2013). Different approaches to quantum gravity, such as string theory and loop quantum gravity, as well as doubly special relativity and gedanken experiments in black holes physics, all indicate the existence of a minimal measurable length of the order of the Planck length, about 1E-35 m. The emergency of a minimal length scale can originate relevant consequences also for low-energy quantum mechanics experiments. In fact the Heisenberg relation states that the position and the momentum of a particle cannot be determined simultaneously with arbitrarily high accuracy. However, an arbitrarily precise measurement of only one of the two observables, say position, is still possible at the cost of our knowledge about the other (momentum), a fact which is obviously incompatible with the existence of a minimal observable distance. This consideration motivates the introduction of generalized Heisenberg uncertainty principles (GUPs). As a consequence, an alternative way to check quantum gravitational effects would be to perform high-sensitivity measurements of the uncertainty relation, in order to reveal any possible deviation from predictions of standard quantum mechanics. In the experiment we propose to measure the Heisenberg uncertainty relation on the momentum position variables of a silicon microresonator probed by a laser readout system. Past projectsQUANTOM (premiale MIUR, 2014-2016). The purpose of this project is strengthening the collaboration between the Italian groups aspiring to work in the field of quantum optomechanics, increasing their specific skills, creating the necessary synergies and interactions between groups with complementary expertise, providing the necessary tools for achieving objectives of excellence, putting together the necessary "critical mass" for a successful participation to the calls of "Horizon 2020". I am the responsible of the development of microresonators for generation and characterization of squeezing exploiting the pondero-motive effect, tailoring non-classical states of light through opto-mechanical interaction, and phenomenological tests of Generalized Uncertainty Relations (quantum gravity effects) by means of quantum limited mechanical resonators. AURIGA (funded by Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, 1993-2016). AURIGA represents the state-of-art in the class of acoustic gravitational wave detectors, and is continuously in operation from year 2004, searching for galactic astrophysical events in collaboration with a world network of detectors. It is located in Padua (Italy) and is based on a 2.2 tons, 3 meters long bar made of a low loss aluminium alloy (Al5056), cooled to liquid helium temperature. The fundamental longitudinal mode of the bar, sensitive to gravitational waves, has an effective mass M=1.1 tons and a resonance frequency of 900 Hz. It is monitored with a resolution better than 10-19 m/Ö{Hz} over a 100 Hz bandwidth. This outstanding sensitivity is accomplished by a multimode resonant capacitive transducer, which converts the motion of the bar into an electrical current, detected by a low noise dc SQUID amplifier through a low-loss high-ratio superconducting transformer. During the ten years needed for the realization of the detector, I was in charge of the design and commissioning of different components: the superconducting transformer with its shields, parts of the cryogenic system, the low frequency seismic isolators. PRIN project (funded by Italian
Ministry for
Education, University and Research, 2013-2015 ) for the development of very
low-loss optical interferometers in the ponderomotive regime for the
reduction of quantum noise. These
opto-mechanical systems offer a promising architecture for
controlling the quantum states of light and matter, and for exploring
the boundaries between quantum and classical mechanics. The
experimental requirements are still difficult to be
met, since quantum fluctuations of the radiation pressure produce weak
effects on the oscillator with respect to the many noise sources of
thermal origin (e.g. Brownian and thermoelastic noises). To help
overcome these problems, our experimental set up will include an
optical cavity with high Finesse, which increases radiation pressure
effects, as well as a mobile optical element with high
mechanical susceptibility and low mechanical losses, which helps in
enhancing its response to applied forces and in increasing the
coherence time of the oscillator respectively. Moreover, the optical
element, e.g. a micro-mirror or a semi-transparent membrane, will be
cooled to cryogenic temperatures. RareNoise
(funded by European
Research Council, 2008-2013) is a fundamental Physics project
aiming at the understanding of the spontaneous vibration fluctuations
of solid bodies subject to non equilibrium conditions. Although
dissipative systems driven far from equilibrium involve many degrees of
freedom, there is no complete and satisfactory statistical description
of the behavior of global quantities (energy, power,...), defined on
the whole volume, unlike the thermo-statistic theory describing the
equilibrium states. This is mainly due to the energy fluxes between the
energy input (at the boundaries of the systems) and the dissipation in
the bulk. These fluxes generate correlations, inhomogeneities and large
fluctuations which prohibit the use of the usual tools of statistical
mechanics. DUAL RD
(funded by Istituto
Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, 2006-2009).
An innovative approach to the detection of gravitational waves is
represented by the DUAL detector, a "non-resonant bar detector": it
consists of an elastic test mass with low mechanical dissipation; a GW
modifies its dimensions and the strain is measured on specifically
selected surfaces leading to a profitable quadrupolar resonant modes
superposition, thus reducing the noise contribution from the readout
and from non gravitationally sensitive modes. The expected sensitivity
may be of the order of 10-23 m/Ö{Hz} around 3 kHz with a
bandwidth of few kHz. The R&D program aims to demonstrate the
feasibility of such detector. ILIAS funded by (European Community, 2004-2009). It is an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative that has pulled together all of Europe's leading infrastructures in Astroparticle Physics to produce a focused, coherent and integrated project to improve the existing infrastructures and their operation as well as to organize and structure the scientific community to prepare the best infrastructures for the future. The activities in the field of GW detectors are coordinated around the Joint Research Project STREGA (Study of Thermal Noise Reduction in Gravitational Wave Detectors). The aim is a ten-fold reduction of thermal noise using new materials, new cryogenic techniques and studying fundamental noise mechanisms. |
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