Dear Stevie,
I am still working hard on the experiment (we do the best we can with the modest funding available). Our experiment has received a lot of attention and many new groups have emerged that also aim at studying quantum states of mechanical systems. A serious competition has started and I am optimistic that within 5 to 10 years the ideas of Penrose on gravitational induced decoherence will be tested.
Last week I gave a talk on the above topic at the PITP in Vancouver. The slides and talk will be posted on their website. There are some images about parts of the setup and of some recent results.
Best regards
Dirk
StevieTNZ said:An email from him:
The Penrose Quantum Mirror Experiment is a thought experiment proposed by physicist Sir Roger Penrose in 1994. It involves a hypothetical setup where a particle is fired towards a pair of parallel mirrors, with the intention of observing the effects of quantum mechanics on the particle's behavior.
The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the possibility of quantum mechanics affecting the behavior of macroscopic objects. It also aims to explore the potential of quantum gravity and its role in the behavior of large-scale systems.
No, the experiment has not been conducted in a physical setting. It is currently a thought experiment and has not been tested in a laboratory setting due to the technical challenges involved.
If the experiment were to be successfully conducted and showed evidence of quantum effects on a macroscopic scale, it could have significant implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics and the nature of reality. It could also provide valuable insights into the behavior of black holes and the universe as a whole.
As of now, there have not been any updates on the experiment itself. However, there have been ongoing discussions and research regarding the feasibility and potential implications of conducting the experiment. Scientists continue to explore ways to test the hypothesis in a real-life setting.