Quantum reference frames are a universal tool applicable to any composite quantum system subject to a symmetry principle. They thus arise in seemingly disparate areas such as quantum gravity, gauge theories, quantum information theory, the foundations of quantum theory and quantum thermodynamics. They are internal reference frames associated with quantum systems and key for defining physical observables and subsystems in quantum gravity and gauge theories. They are stand-in references in quantum information protocols in the absence of shared external frames, they assume the role of reference system in thermodynamic setups and they are crucial for exploring the universality of quantum theory by including reference frames under its wings. Quantum reference frames also appear as edge and soft modes in gauge theory and gravity and have recently been shown to intrinsically regulate entanglement entropies in quantum gravity without the need to introduce cutoffs. They thus have a wide utility in fundamental theoretical physics and a core new development is that they give rise to a novel quantum covariance of physical laws and properties.

This workshop aims to bring together leading experts on the subject of quantum reference frames. Owing to their diverse range of applicability, a number of approaches to quantum reference frames have emerged. Our goal is to be inclusive and host representatives from many (if not all) of the approaches, as well as from the different disciplines in which such quantum frames appear.

The field of quantum reference frame covariance also represents a newly emerging community and this will be the first dedicated event to bring this community together. A virtue of this emerging field is that it is comprised of a large number of young, early-career researchers, besides a few senior figures. The workshop especially aims to give early-career researchers a platform to present themselves, interact and potentially initiate novel collaborations across disciplines. While we will invite a few senior speakers, half of the invited speakers will be drawn from a pool of postdocs, junior faculty members or group leaders and even PhD students. There will also be contributed talks to include additional younger speakers. The hope is that this event will serve as a boost to a young and growing interdisciplinary community in fundamental physics.

The event will be in collaboration with the Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime (QISS, qiss.fr) consortium, funded by the Templeton Foundation, which harbors many of the leading experts on quantum reference frame related research and of which the Qubits and Spacetime Unit is a node.

Workshop website: TBA

OIST is deeply committed to the advancement of women in science, in Japan and worldwide. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.