The Bohr–Einstein ‘‘weighing-of-energy’’ debate and the principle of equivalence

Abstract

The Bohr–Einstein debate over the ‘‘weighing of energy’’ and the validity of the time–energy uncertainty relation is reexamined in the context of gravitation theories that do not respect the equivalence principle. Bohr’s use of the equivalence principle is shown to be sufficient, but not necessary, to establish the validity of this uncertainty relation in Einstein’s ‘‘weighing-of-energy’’ gedanken experiment. The uncertainty relation is shown to hold in any energy-conserving theory of gravity, and so a failure of the equivalence principle does not engender a failure of quantum mechanics. The relationship between the gravitational redshift and the equivalence principle is reviewed.