On the collective properties of quantum media

TL;DR

This paper develops a hydrodynamic framework for diverse quantum media, unifying their properties and exploring analogies across physical systems, with applications to laboratory simulations of gravitational phenomena and alternative gravity theories.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive hydrodynamic representation applicable to various quantum media with interactions and nonlinearities, linking different physical systems and enabling experimental emulation of gravitational effects.

Findings

Unified hydrodynamic description for quantum media

Analogies between quantum systems and gravitational phenomena

Potential for laboratory experiments simulating gravity theories

Abstract

We discuss the hydrodynamic representation of a wide class of quantum media exhibiting similar elementary excitations and dispersion properties. The representation covers quantum systems characterized by any type of (long-range) self-interaction, associated with an arbitrary potential. It also accounts for possible nonlinearities, which may arise e.g., due to short-range interactions (collisions) in the case of bosons, or from the Pauli exclusion principle for fermions. The approach equally applies to various physical scenarios, such as self-gravitating quantum media (e.g., dark matter), quantum plasmas, Bose-Einstein condensates, and non-condensed cold atomic clouds. We discuss the formal analogies that can be drawn between these different systems and how they can be used to realize laboratory experiments emulating gravitational phenomena, especially in the context of alternative theories of gravity. To substantiate our point, we elaborate more closely on the case of non-minimal matter-curvature coupling gravity theories.