Quantum interferometry in external gravitational fields

TL;DR

This paper develops a unified theoretical framework to describe quantum interferometry experiments in external gravitational fields, bridging different modeling approaches for matter-wave and quantum optics experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model that coherently incorporates gravitational effects in quantum interferometry across various space-time geometries.

Findings

Provides a rigorous description of gravity's effects on quantum probes.

Unifies different modeling approaches for quantum interferometry in gravitational fields.

Enhances understanding of quantum experiments in curved space-times.

Abstract

Current models of quantum interference experiments in external gravitational fields lack a common framework: while matter-wave interferometers are commonly described using the Schr\"odinger equation with a Newtonian potential, gravitational effects in quantum optics are modeled using either post-Newtonian metrics or highly symmetric exact solutions to Einstein's field equations such as those of Schwarzschild and Kerr. To coherently describe both kinds of experiments, this paper develops a unified framework for modeling quantum interferometers in general stationary space-times. This model provides a rigorous description and coherent interpretation of the effects of classical gravity on quantum probes.