Constraining the generalized uncertainty principle with cold atoms

Understand

Various theories of quantum gravity predict the existence of a minimum length scale, which implies the Planck-scale modifications of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to a so-called generalized uncertainty principle (GUP).

• Previous studies of the GUP focused on its implications for high-energy physics, cosmology, and astrophysics.
• Here, the application of the GUP to low-energy quantum systems, and particularly cold atoms, is studied.
• Results from the $^{87}$Rb atom recoil experiment are used to set upper bounds on parameters in three different GUP proposals.