Quantum Tests of the Foundations of General Relativity

TL;DR

This paper explores how the equivalence principle applies to quantum mechanics and matter wave interferometry, proposing a generalized form that encompasses quantum phenomena and helps understand quantum-gravity interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized equivalence principle valid for quantum systems and demonstrates its applicability to matter wave interferometry and quantum dynamics in gravitational fields.

Findings

The generalized equivalence principle holds for matter wave interferometry.

The mean position path in gravitational fields satisfies the generalized principle.

This approach aids in understanding quantum interactions with gravity.

Abstract

The role of the equivalence principle in the context of non-relativistic quantum mechanics and matter wave interferometry, especially atom beam interferometry, will be discussed. A generalised form of the weak equivalence principle which is capable of covering quantum phenomena too, will be proposed. It is shown that this generalised equivalence principle is valid for matter wave interferometry and for the dynamics of expectation values. In addition, the use of this equivalence principle makes it possible to determine the structure of the interaction of quantum systems with gravitational and inertial fields. It is also shown that the path of the mean value of the position operator in the case of gravitational interaction does fulfill this generalised equivalence principle.