A healthier stochastic semiclassical gravity: world without Schr\"{o}dinger cats

TL;DR

This paper proposes a conceptually improved semiclassical gravity theory that incorporates quantum fluctuations and restores quantum linearity, aiming to eliminate Schrödinger cat states and address foundational issues in relativistic contexts.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid classical-quantum coupling mechanism based on spontaneous monitoring and feedback, extending a nonrelativistic model towards relativistic covariance.

Findings

Eliminates Schrödinger cat states in semiclassical gravity

Restores linearity of quantum dynamics in the model

Addresses quantum foundation obstacles in relativistic extension

Abstract

Semiclassical gravity couples classical gravity to the quantized matter in meanfield approximation. The meanfield coupling is problematic for two reasons. First, it ignores the quantum fluctuation of matter distribution. Second, it violates the linearity of the quantum dynamics. The first problem can be mitigated by allowing stochastic fluctuations of the geometry but the second problem lies deep in quantum foundations. Restoration of quantum linearity requires a conceptual approach to hybrid classical-quantum coupling. Studies of the measurement problem and the quantum-classical transition point to the solution. It is based on a postulated mechanism of spontaneous quantum monitoring plus feedback. This approach eliminates Schr\"{o}dinger cat states, takes quantum fluctuations into account, and restores the linearity of quantum dynamics. Such a captivating conceptionally `healthier' semiclassical theory exists in the Newtonian limit, but its relativistic covariance hits a wall. Here we will briefly recapitulate the concept and its realization in the nonrelativistic limit. We emphasize that the long-known obstacles to the relativistic extension lie in quantum foundations.