Core Viewpoint - Chinese scientists have made significant progress in quantum research, successfully demonstrating a thought experiment proposed by Einstein and Bohr in 1927, thereby resolving a long-standing debate in quantum mechanics [1][8]. Group 1: Research Achievements - The research team from the University of Science and Technology of China, led by Professors Pan Jianwei, Lu Zhaoyang, and Chen Mingcheng, utilized a single atom trapped by optical tweezers to faithfully realize the "recoil slit" quantum interference thought experiment [1]. - The experiment observed the gradual change in interference contrast of atomic momentum, proving the complementarity principle under the Heisenberg limit and showcasing a continuous transition from quantum to classical [1][8]. - The results were published in the journal Physical Review Letters and received special coverage in the Physics section of the American Physical Society [1]. Group 2: Experimental Methodology - The key to achieving this thought experiment was measuring an effective recoil signal, which required the momentum uncertainty of the slit to be smaller than the impact momentum of the photon [3][5]. - The research group developed the most sensitive "movable slit" under quantum limit conditions by using a single rubidium atom as the movable slit and cooling it to the three-dimensional motion ground state [5]. - The experiment involved actively controlling the atomic fluorescence interference path to a nanometer level, ensuring stable interference [7]. Group 3: Observations and Implications - The experiment demonstrated that as the optical trap deepened, the spatial confinement of the atom increased, leading to a higher overlap of the atomic momentum wave function after photon recoil, which improved the interference contrast [7]. - The team also observed a decrease in interference contrast due to classical noise from atomic heating, which was calibrated and removed, aligning the experimental data with the ideal quantum limit scenario [7][8]. - This work not only realized Einstein's thought experiment but also laid the groundwork for advanced quantum technologies, including large-scale neutral atom arrays and quantum error correction coding [8].

Core Insights - A new method proposed by Australian and UK scientists allows for simultaneous precise measurement of a particle's position and momentum, reshaping quantum uncertainty and laying the groundwork for future ultra-precise sensing technologies [1][2] Group 1: Quantum Measurement Technique - The method challenges the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which states that certain paired properties, like position and momentum, cannot be precisely measured at the same time [1] - The team utilized a technique called "mode operation," sacrificing some global information to focus on small changes, achieving high precision in measuring both position and momentum [1] Group 2: Experimental Validation and Applications - The team verified this strategy in experiments using technology developed for quantum error-correcting computers, preparing trapped ions in a "grid state" to measure tiny vibrations for joint position and momentum measurement [2] - This advancement surpasses the "standard quantum limit" of traditional classical sensors, enabling sensors to capture weak signals even under quantum noise interference [2] - Although still in the laboratory phase, this measurement framework could complement existing methods and potentially lead to new application areas, similar to how atomic clocks transformed navigation and telecommunications [2]