Single electron relativistic clock interferometer

• Published in: New journal of physics Vol. 18; no. 9; pp. 93050 - 93059
• Main Authors: Bushev, P A, Cole, J H, Sholokhov, D, Kukharchyk, N, Zych, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 27.09.2016
• Subjects: 03.65.-w; 04.20.-q; 14.60.-Cd; 42.50.-Dv; 84.40.-Az; Amplitudes; classical general relativity; Cyclotrons; Dilation; Electron spin; Electrons; Physics; quantum mechanics; quantum state engineering and mesurements; Quantum theory; Relativism; Relativistic effects; Relativity; Single electrons; single trapped electron; transmission lines; waveguides
• ISSN: 1367-2630; 1367-2630
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/18/9/093050

Although time is one of the fundamental notions in physics, it does not have a unique description. In quantum theory time is a parameter ordering the succession of the probability amplitudes of a quantum system, while according to relativity theory each system experiences in general a different proper time, depending on the system's world line, due to time dilation. It is therefore of fundamental interest to test the notion of time in the regime where both quantum and relativistic effects play a role, for example, when different amplitudes of a single quantum clock experience different magnitudes of time dilation. Here we propose a realization of such an experiment with a single electron in a Penning trap. The clock can be implemented in the electronic spin precession and its time dilation then depends on the radial (cyclotron) state of the electron. We show that coherent manipulation and detection of the electron can be achieved already with present day technology. A single electron in a Penning trap is a technologically ready platform where the notion of time can be probed in a hitherto untested regime, where it requires a relativistic as well as quantum description.