Information Content of the Gravitational Field of a Quantum Superposition

Author(s)
Alessio Belenchia, Robert M. Wald, Flaminia Giacomini, Esteban Castro-Ruiz, Časlav Brukner, Markus Aspelmeyer
Abstract

When a massive quantum body is put into a spatial superposition, it is of interest to consider the quantum aspects of the gravitational field sourced by the body. We argue that in order to understand how the body may become entangled with other massive bodies via gravitational interactions, it must be thought of as being entangled with its own Newtonian-like gravitational field. Thus, a Newtonian-like gravitational field must be capable of carrying quantum information. Our analysis supports the view that table-top experiments testing entanglement of systems interacting via gravity do probe the quantum nature of gravity, even if no ``gravitons'' are emitted during the experiment.

Organisation(s)
Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information, Research Network Quantum Aspects of Space Time
External organisation(s)
Queen's University Belfast, University of Chicago, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW)
Journal
International Journal of Modern Physics D
Volume
28
No. of pages
6
ISSN
0218-2718
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218271819430016
Publication date
06-2019
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103025 Quantum mechanics, 103012 High energy physics, 103028 Theory of relativity
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mathematical Physics, Space and Planetary Science
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/information-content-of-the-gravitational-field-of-a-quantum-superposition(806e5ba1-61de-45b9-8541-93bb71d08fc4).html