Spin Entanglement Witness for Quantum Gravity
File(s)Gravity-Entangling-Nov-4.pdf (725.7 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Understanding gravity in the framework of quantum mechanics is one of the great challenges in modern physics. However, the lack of empirical evidence has lead to a debate on whether gravity is a quantum entity. Despite varied proposed probes for quantum gravity, it is fair to say that there are no feasible ideas yet to test its quantum coherent behavior directly in a laboratory experiment. Here, we introduce an idea for such a test based on the principle that two objects cannot be entangled without a quantum mediator. We show that despite the weakness of gravity, the phase evolution induced by the gravitational interaction of two micron size test masses in adjacent matter-wave interferometers can detectably entangle them even when they are placed far apart enough to keep Casimir-Polder forces at bay. We provide a prescription for witnessing this entanglement, which certifies gravity as a quantum coherent mediator, through simple spin correlation measurements.
Date Issued
2017-12-13
Date Acceptance
2017-09-06
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2017, 119 (24)
ISSN
0031-9007
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
119
Issue
24
Copyright Statement
© 2017 American Physical Society
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
The Leverhulme Trust
The Royal Society
Grant Number
EP/K034480/1
RPG-2014-055
WM140063
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
DECOHERENCE
REDUCTION
MODELS
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
240401