Repulsive Gravitational Force as a Witness of the Quantum Nature of Gravity

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2602.12266v1
• Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:54:50 GMT
• Title: Repulsive Gravitational Force as a Witness of the Quantum Nature of Gravity
• Authors: Pablo L. Saldanha, Chiara Marletto, Vlatko Vedral,
• Abstract summary: We show that a single spatially superposed'source' mass acting on a 'probe' matter wavepacket can reveal the quantum nature of the gravitational field.<n>A classical gravitational field can never lead to repulsion, as the effect requires quantum interference of two distinct states of gravity.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: We show that a single spatially superposed 'source' mass acting on a 'probe' matter wavepacket can reveal the quantum nature of the gravitational field. For this we use a specific state preparation and measurement of the superposed source mass, including a postselection, which altogether results in a repulsive gravitational force on the probe particle. A classical gravitational field can never lead to repulsion, as the effect requires quantum interference of two distinct states of gravity. We also present a calculation in the Heisenberg picture under the formalism of weak values that illustrates how repulsion is achieved. Finally, we estimate the range of parameters (masses and the spatio-temporal extent of interference) for which the experiment is feasible.

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