Quantum Optics Seminar: Charles Paul Jacques Fromonteil

Non-local mass superpositions in programmable atomic quantum sensor networks

Programmable atomic systems are emerging as a versatile platform for quantum computing, simulation, and sensing. In this talk, I will present my research on controlling neutral-atom systems across these fields; in particular, I will focus on our recent proposal for probing the interface of gravity and quantum mechanics by preparing non-local mass superpositions in a programmable atomic quantum sensing network.

Our approach harnesses mass-energy equivalence by using entanglement of optical clock qubits. It uniquely combines scalability to large atom numbers with minimal control requirements, and enables spatial separations beyond those achievable in conventional matter-wave interferometry. Starting from Bell-type seed states distributed via photonic channels, local collective operations generate many-body mass superpositions sensitive to gravitational redshift. The resulting architecture implements a non-local Ramsey interferometer, where gravitationally induced phases can be read out through local measurements at the network nodes. Our scheme establishes a scalable, programmable platform to probe the interface of quantum mechanics and gravity, and offers a new experimental pathway to test atom- and atom-clock interferometer proposals.