We report on precision resonance spectroscopy measurements of quantum states of ultracold neutrons confined above the surface of a horizontal mirror by the gravity potential of the Earth. Resonant transitions between several of the lowest quantum sta
tes are observed for the first time. These measurements demonstrate, that Newtons inverse square law of Gravity is understood at micron distances on an energy scale of~$10^{-14}$~eV. At this level of precision we are able to provide constraints on any possible gravity-like interaction. In particular, a dark energy chameleon field is excluded for values of the coupling constant~$beta > 5.8times10^8$ at~95% confidence level~(C.L.), and an attractive (repulsive) dark matter axion-like spin-mass coupling is excluded for the coupling strength $g_sg_p > 3.7times10^{-16}$~($5.3times10^{-16}$)~at a Yukawa length of~$lambda = 20$~{textmu}m~(95% (C.L.).
The evidence for the observation of the Higgs spin-0-boson as a manifestation of a scalar field provides the missing corner stone for the standard model of particles (SM). However, the SM fails to explain the non-visible but gravitationally active pa
rt of the universe. Its nature is unknown but the confirmation of a scalar Higgs is giving a boost to scalar-field-theories. So far gravity experiments and observations performed at different distances find no deviation from Newtons gravity law. Therefore dark energy must possess a screening mechanism which suppresses the scalar-mediated fifth force. Our line of attack is a novel gravity experiment with neutrons based on a quantum interference technique. The spectroscopic measurement of quantum states on resonances with an external coupling makes this a powerful search for dark matter and dark energy contributions in the universe. Quantum states in the gravity potential are intimately related to other scalar field or spin-0-bosons if they exist. If the reason is that some undiscovered particle interact with a neutron, this results in a measurable energy shift of quantum states in the gravity potential, because for neutrons the screening effect is absent. We use Gravity Resonance Spectroscopy to measure the energy splitting at the highest level of precision, providing a constraint on any possible new interaction. We obtain a sensitivity of 10^-14 eV. We set an experimental limit on any fifth force, in particular on parameter beta<2x10^9 at n=3 for the scalar chameleon field, which is improved by a factor of 100 compared to our previous experiment and five orders of magnitude better than from precision tests of atomic spectra. The pseudoscalar axion coupling is constrained to gsgp/hbar c<3x10^-16 at 20mu m, which is an improvement by a factor of 30. These results indicate that gravity is understood at this improved level of precision.
We report the first experimental generation and characterization of a six-photon Dicke state. The produced state shows a fidelity of F=0.56+/-0.02 with respect to an ideal Dicke state and violates a witness detecting genuine six-qubit entanglement by
four standard deviations. We confirm characteristic Dicke properties of our resource and demonstrate its versatility by projecting out four- and five-photon Dicke states, as well as four-photon GHZ and W states. We also show that Dicke states have interesting applications in multiparty quantum networking protocols such as open-destination teleportation, telecloning and quantum secret sharing.
