Relativistic Particle Motion and Quantum Optics in a Weak Gravitational Field

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2106.12514v1
• Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2021 16:32:45 GMT
• Title: Relativistic Particle Motion and Quantum Optics in a Weak Gravitational Field
• Authors: Charis Anastopoulos and Bei-Lok Hu
• Abstract summary: Long-baseline quantum experiments in space make it necessary to better understand the time evolution of relativistic quantum particles in a weakly varying gravitational field. We explain why conventional treatments by traditional quantum optics and atomic physics may become inadequate when faced with issues related to locality, simultaneity, signaling, causality, etc. Adding the effects of gravitation, we are led to Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (QFTCST) This well-established theory should serve as the canonical reference theory to a large class of proposed space experiments testing the foundations of gravitation and quantum theory.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: The possibility of long-baseline quantum experiments in space makes it necessary to better understand the time evolution of relativistic quantum particles in a weakly varying gravitational field. We explain why conventional treatments by traditional quantum optics and atomic physics based on quantum mechanics may become inadequate when faced with issues related to locality, simultaneity, signaling, causality, etc. Quantum field theory is needed. Adding the effects of gravitation, we are led to Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (QFTCST). This well-established theory should serve as the canonical reference theory to a large class of proposed space experiments testing the foundations of gravitation and quantum theory, and the basic notions of quantum information theory in relativistic settings. This is the first in a series of papers treating near-term quantum optics and matter waves experiments in space from the perspective of QFTCST. We analyze the quantum motion of photons and of scalar massive particles using QFTCST with application to interferometer experiments. Our main result is that, for photons, the weak gravitational field is to leading order completely equivalent to an inhomogeneous dielectric, thus allowing for a description of quantum optics experiments in curved space using familiar notions from the theory of optical media. We also discuss interference experiments that probe first-order quantum coherence, the importance of a covariant particle detection theory, and the relevance of time of arrival measurements. For massive particles with internal structure, we identify a novel gravity-induced phase shift that originates from the different gravitational masses attributed to the excited internal states. This phase shift can in principle be measured in space experiments.

Related papers

• Semiclassical gravity phenomenology under the causal-conditional quantum measurement prescription II: Heisenberg picture and apparent optical entanglement [13.04737397490371]
  In quantum gravity theory, a state-dependent gravitational potential introduces nonlinearity into the state evolution. The formalism for understanding the continuous quantum measurement process on the quantum state has been previously discussed using the Schr"odinger picture. In this work, an equivalent formalism using the Heisenberg picture is developed and applied to the analysis of two optomechanical experiment protocols.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-11-08T14:07:18Z)
• Quantum-information methods for quantum gravity laboratory-based tests [0.0]
  We review the nascent field of information-theoretic methods applied to designing tests of quantum gravity in the laboratory. We shall focus mainly on the detection of gravitational entanglement between two quantum probes, comparing this method with single-probe schemes. We shall also highlight the role of general information-theoretic principles in illuminating the search for quantum effects in gravity.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-10-08T19:51:10Z)
• Table-top nanodiamond interferometer enabling quantum gravity tests [34.82692226532414]
  We present a feasibility study for a table-top nanodiamond-based interferometer. By relying on quantum superpositions of steady massive objects our interferometer may allow exploiting just small-range electromagnetic fields.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-05-31T17:20:59Z)
• A Theory of Quantum Jumps [44.99833362998488]
  We study fluorescence and the phenomenon of quantum jumps'' in idealized models of atoms coupled to the quantized electromagnetic field. Our results amount to a derivation of the fundamental randomness in the quantum-mechanical description of microscopic systems.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-04-16T11:00:46Z)
• Decoherence of a composite particle induced by a weak quantized gravitational field [0.0]
  We study the decoherence of a quantum system induced by the quantized gravitational field and by its own quantum nature. Our results may be important in providing a better understanding of many phenomena like the decoherence induced by the gravitational time-dilation.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-08-14T20:49:16Z)
• Quantum data learning for quantum simulations in high-energy physics [55.41644538483948]
  We explore the applicability of quantum-data learning to practical problems in high-energy physics. We make use of ansatz based on quantum convolutional neural networks and numerically show that it is capable of recognizing quantum phases of ground states. The observation of non-trivial learning properties demonstrated in these benchmarks will motivate further exploration of the quantum-data learning architecture in high-energy physics.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-06-29T18:00:01Z)
• Inference of gravitational field superposition from quantum measurements [1.7246954941200043]
  In non-relativistic quantum mechanics, the gravitational field in such experiments can be written as a superposition state. We empirically demonstrate that alternative theories of gravity can avoid gravitational superposition states. Proposed experiments with superposed gravitational sources would provide even stronger evidence that gravity is nonclassical.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-09-06T04:37:07Z)
• Gravitational effects in macroscopic quantum systems: a first-principles analysis [0.0]
  We analyze the weak-field limit of General Relativity with matter and its possible quantisations. This analysis aims towards a predictive quantum theory to provide a first-principles description of gravitational effects in macroscopic quantum systems.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-03-14T21:29:11Z)
• A Chirality-Based Quantum Leap [46.53135635900099]
  Chiral degrees of freedom occur in matter and in electromagnetic fields. Recent observations of the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect in chiral molecules and engineered nanomaterials.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-08-31T22:47:39Z)
• Quantum Hall phase emerging in an array of atoms interacting with photons [101.18253437732933]
  Topological quantum phases underpin many concepts of modern physics. Here, we reveal that the quantum Hall phase with topological edge states, spectral Landau levels and Hofstadter butterfly can emerge in a simple quantum system. Such systems, arrays of two-level atoms (qubits) coupled to light being described by the classical Dicke model, have recently been realized in experiments with cold atoms and superconducting qubits.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-03-18T14:56:39Z)
• Probing the Universality of Topological Defect Formation in a Quantum Annealer: Kibble-Zurek Mechanism and Beyond [46.39654665163597]
  We report on experimental tests of topological defect formation via the one-dimensional transverse-field Ising model. We find that the quantum simulator results can indeed be explained by the KZM for open-system quantum dynamics with phase-flip errors. This implies that the theoretical predictions of the generalized KZM theory, which assumes isolation from the environment, applies beyond its original scope to an open system.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-01-31T02:55:35Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.