Abstract
What gravitational field is generated by a massive quantum system in a spatial superposition? Despite decades of intensive theoretical and experimental research, we still do not know the answer. On the experimental side, the difficulty lies in the fact that gravity is weak and requires large masses to be detectable. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to generate spatial quantum superpositions for increasingly large masses, in light of the stronger environmental effects on such systems. Clearly, a delicate balance between the need for strong gravitational effects and weak decoherence should be found. We show that such a trade off could be achieved in an optomechanics scenario that allows to witness whether the gravitational field generated by a quantum system in a spatial superposition is in a coherent superposition or not. We estimate the magnitude of the effect and show that it offers perspectives for observability.
Highlights
To cite this article: M Carlesso et al 2019 New J
A delicate balance between the need for strong gravitational effects and weak decoherence should be found. We show that such a trade off could be achieved in an optomechanics scenario that allows to witness whether the gravitational field generated by a quantum system in a spatial superposition is in a coherent superposition or not
We have illustrated the dynamics of an optomechanical system probing the gravitational field of a massive quantum system in a spatial superposition
Summary
Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Abstract. What gravitational field is generated by a massive quantum system in a spatial superposition? A delicate balance between the need for strong gravitational effects and weak decoherence should be found We show that such a trade off could be achieved in an optomechanics scenario that allows to witness whether the gravitational field generated by a quantum system in a spatial superposition is in a coherent superposition or not. At the end of the day, according to general relativity, gravity is rather different from all other forces It is not a force at all, but a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime, and there is no obvious reason why the standard approach to the quantization of fields should work for spacetime as well. We discuss an approach where a quantum system is forced in the superposition of two different positions in space, and its gravitational field is explored by a probe (figure 1).
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