Hermann-von-Helmholtz Symposium on matter and photon interferometry at the PTB

This year it is 50 years since the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) was established in Braunschweig. In March 1947, a presidential committee was set up, headed by Max von Laue. On this occasion, from July 3 to 5, 1997, a series of events will take place at the PTB. As one of these the Hermann-von-Helmholtz symposium will be established; it will be held every year and attend to questions of basic research in the area of physics. It will also deal with topical questions of both a theoretical and an experimental nature, which are closely connected with the foundations of physical measuring techniques and metrology or which may be of great importance to these fields.

The first Hermann-von-Helmholtz symposium will be held on July 4,1997, in the lecture hall of the PTB. Its subject is "Matter and photon interferometry", and it will deal with the particle and wave character of light and matter. Although the quantum nature of fields and particles dates back to the beginning of this century when the origins of the quantum theory were discovered, investigations which are important for the understanding could be performed only in the last few years using the modern methods of laser spectrometry and nanotechnology. The rapid development in the area of matter and photon interferometry which started in the sequel has led to diverse fields of application being established and new research focusses being formulated. A good example of this from the Braunschweig-Hannover region is the creation of a special area of research of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft at the Hannover University, which deals with quantum-limited measuring processes with atoms, molecules and photons and to which the PTB contributes with seven subprojects.

The symposium gives a representative overview of the research activities in this field.

The following program is provided:

Introduction
Prof. Dr. Ernst Otto Göbel, PTB

New developments in atomic optics
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mlynek, Konstanz University

Quantum optics with individual atoms
Prof. Dr. Herbert Walther, MPI für Quantenoptik, Garching

Duality of atomic and light interferometry
Dr. Fritz Riehle, PTB

Neutrons in the form of Schrödinger cats
Prof. Dr. Helmut Rauch, Vienna University

Free electron laser in the X-ray domain
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Materlik, DESY Hamburg