Testing the Equivalence Principle in the Quantum Regime

TL;DR

This paper explores testing the Einstein Equivalence Principle in quantum systems, focusing on how quantum vacuum energies might cause violations detectable through atomic and particle physics experiments.

Contribution

It proposes specific experimental tests involving Lamb-shift transitions and magnetic moments to investigate potential violations of the equivalence principle in quantum regimes.

Findings

Current experiments set bounds on equivalence principle violations.

High-precision measurements could improve constraints.

Quantum vacuum energies may influence gravitational interactions.

Abstract

We consider possible tests of the Einstein Equivalence Principle for physical systems in which quantum-mechanical vacuum energies cannot be neglected. Specific tests include a search for the manifestation of non-metric effects in Lamb-shift transitions of Hydrogenic atoms and in anomalous magnetic moments of massive leptons. We discuss how current experiments already set bounds on the violation of the equivalence principle in this sector and how new (high-precision) measurements of these quantities could provide further information to this end.