



01596nas a2200145   4500008004100000022001400041245007300055210006900128260001500197490000700212520114700219100002201366700001901388856004301407       2017                        eng d  a1099-430000aOptomechanical Analogy for Toy Cosmology with Quantized Scale Factor0 aOptomechanical Analogy for Toy Cosmology with Quantized Scale Fa  c2017/09/120 v193 a<p>The simplest cosmologyâ&euro;&rdquo;the Friedmannâ&euro;&ldquo;Robertsonâ&euro;&ldquo;Walkerâ&euro;&ldquo;LemaÃ&reg;tre (FRW) modelâ&euro;&rdquo; describes a spatially homogeneous and isotropic universe where the scale factor is the only dynamical parameter. Here we consider how quantized electromagnetic fields become entangled with the scale factor in a toy version of the FRW model. A system consisting of a photon, source, and detector is described in such a universe, and we find that the detection of a redshifted photon by the detector system constrains possible scale factor superpositions. Thus, measuring the redshift of the photon is equivalent to a weak measurement of the underlying cosmology. We also consider a potential optomechanical analogy system that would enable experimental exploration of these concepts. The analogy focuses on the effects of photon redshift measurement as a quantum back-action on metric variables, where the position of a movable mirror plays the role of the scale factor. By working in the rotating frame, an effective Hubble equation can be simulated with a simple free moving mirror.</p>1 aSmiga, Joseph, A.1 aTaylor, J., M.  uhttp://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/19/9/485