Gravity as an Entropic Phenomenon

TL;DR

This paper explores Verlinde's hypothesis that gravity is an emergent, thermodynamic phenomenon arising from information theory and quantum microstates, challenging the view of gravity as a fundamental force.

Contribution

It analyzes the implications of viewing gravity as an emergent phenomenon, integrating concepts from quantum microstates, entanglement, and string theory.

Findings

Gravity may emerge from thermodynamic principles.

Quantum microstates and entanglement play roles in emergent gravity.

Thermodynamic action principles could underpin gravitational dynamics.

Abstract

The unification of gravity with the three other forces has been an important goal of physics for some time now, because a quantum theory of gravity is necessary to explain the universe at its earliest moments. Its pursuit has largely assumed gravity's independent existence, but E. Verlinde proposed that gravity is not a fundamental force but a macroscopic phenomenon that emerges as a result of thermodynamic principles applied to the information of mass distributions. Under this framework we consider the roles played by quantum microstates, entanglement, information theory, the AdS/CFT Correspondence, and String Theory in general. We also ask whether Verlinde's proposal suggests that action principles should be thermodynamic in nature.