Gravitational effects of atomic and molecular systems

Abstract

Finding the complete quantum gravity theory is the most important and frontal subject in theoretical physics, and the black hole thermodynamics and using quantum interferometer to test gravitational effect are considered as two significant “probing fields” for the coming quantum gravity theory. The two fields represent two respective ends of modern research into quantum gravity: one introduces quantum mechanics into a gravitational system, while the other attempts to incorporate gravity with a quantum system through observing the evolution of the quantum system in the gravitational background. For the former, the unitarity of quantum mechanics will meet a great challenge, while for the latter, the equivalence principle of general relativity will be probed more and more rigorously in experiments done with microscopical particles. Now the Hawking radiation of black holes has been found in the atomic, molecular and optic experiments, but its mechanism is unclear. In particular, whether the phenomenon could be explained within the current theories or needs the new physics is also unclear. However, it is very significant to get insight into some possible elements about quantum gravity through these experiments. On the other hand, the gravitational effects can be measured by quantum systems, which provides not only the convenience to study the influence of gravitational effects on quantum systems, but also a possible entrance to study the incorporation of quantum mechanics and gravity. In the review, we will discuss all these based on the interdiscipline of atom-molecule-optics and gravity, and our recent works related to the incorporation of quantum mechanics and gravity.