GQuEST aims to measure how seemingly empty space affects interfering light.
In the GQuEST’s tabletop laser interferometer, a beam splitter slices a beam in two. These two beams of light shine down two perpendicular arms of equal length towards mirrors. When the beams of light bounce back from the mirrors, they recombine at the beam splitter and are reflected into ultra-sensitive detectors.
Random fluctuations in empty space called quantum fluctuations cause slight changes to the beams of light as they pass through, resulting in interferences between the beams. Data produced by GQuEST’s laser interferometer and ultra-sensitive detectors can help us investigate theoretical links between gravity and quantum mechanics.