Matter-Wave Interferometry Indirectly Proves Gravity Creates Quantum Entanglement Between Systems

The fundamental connection between gravity and quantum entanglement remains one of the most elusive goals in modern physics, with proposed experiments often requiring technology far beyond our current capabilities. Martin Plávala, from the Institut für Theoretische Physik at Leibniz Universität Hannover, and colleagues demonstrate that existing matter-wave interferometers are, in fact, sufficient to indirectly verify that gravity creates entanglement between systems. The team proves that confirming the Schrödinger equation for a single, delocalized system interacting with a mass also confirms that two such systems will evolve to exhibit entanglement mediated by gravity. This research significantly advances the field by suggesting that experimental verification of this quantum essence of gravity is now within reach, potentially opening new avenues for exploring the interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity.

Quantum theory enjoys remarkable success, yet experimental verification of quantum gravity remains a distant prospect. Researchers now propose that current matter-wave interferometers, devices that precisely measure the phase of quantum particles, are sensitive enough to indirectly demonstrate that gravitational interaction creates entanglement between quantum systems. Specifically, the team proves that verifying the Schrödinger equation for a single delocalized system interacting with a mass is sufficient to prove that two such systems become gravitationally entangled. These findings suggest that experimentally confirming the quantum nature of gravity is now within reach.

Entanglement via Gravity and Schrödinger Verification

This research presents a theoretical and experimental framework for demonstrating entanglement mediated by gravity and verifying the Schrödinger equation in a regime where such entanglement is predicted. The authors propose a carefully designed experiment involving mesoscopic masses in a superposition of spatial states, supported by detailed theoretical justification and numerical verification. They explore the quantum nature of gravity by investigating how gravitational interaction can create entanglement between quantum states, a subtle effect typically considered a classical force. The experiment aims to verify the Schrödinger equation in a regime where gravity-mediated entanglement is predicted, testing fundamental physics in a new context.

The use of mesoscopic masses, small enough to exhibit quantum behavior but large enough for measurable gravitational interaction, is crucial. By placing these masses in a superposition of spatial states, the experiment creates the initial quantum state that can become entangled with another mass. The authors also address potential issues like the Casimir-Polder interaction, a short-range electromagnetic force, by carefully selecting experimental parameters. The research demonstrates that even a positive map, a weaker condition than complete positivity, is sufficient to demonstrate entanglement, supported by numerical evidence.

Semidefinite programming is used to optimize conditions for demonstrating entanglement and verify theoretical predictions. The proposed experimental setup utilizes an interferometer to create and manipulate the superposition of spatial states, with two additional masses placed nearby to create the gravitational interaction. The experiment measures the relative phase shift between the interferometer arms, caused by the gravitational interaction, and numerical simulations verify the theoretical predictions. This work provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding gravity-mediated entanglement, a concrete experimental proposal, and numerical evidence supporting the theory.

The authors carefully address classical effects and demonstrate that entanglement can be observed even with a weaker condition on the time evolution operator. Supporting information, including code availability, is provided in the appendices. This research has implications for testing quantum gravity, exploring quantum information processing, and deepening our understanding of fundamental physics.

Entanglement Verifies Gravity Through Quantum Interferometry

Recent research demonstrates a pathway to experimentally verify the link between gravity and quantum entanglement, potentially revealing whether gravity arises from quantum effects. The core of the discovery lies in demonstrating that verifying the Schrödinger equation for a single quantum system interacting with a mass is sufficient to prove that two such systems become gravitationally entangled. This is a significant departure from previous approaches that required direct measurement of entanglement between macroscopic objects, a feat considered extremely challenging. The research indicates that the necessary experiments are now within reach, opening up the possibility of directly testing the quantum nature of gravity.

Importantly, the findings suggest that even the relatively weak gravitational force can induce measurable entanglement. This is particularly surprising given the difficulty of creating and maintaining entanglement in macroscopic systems, where environmental noise typically destroys quantum coherence. The team’s calculations show that the predicted entanglement is strong enough to be detected using current interferometer technology, offering a realistic path toward experimental verification. Furthermore, the research provides a theoretical framework for understanding how gravity might emerge from quantum entanglement, potentially resolving a long-standing conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics. By establishing a clear connection between gravitational interaction and quantum entanglement, this work offers a new perspective on the fundamental nature of gravity and its relationship to the quantum world. The implications extend beyond theoretical physics, potentially influencing our understanding of the universe and its origins.

Gravity’s Role in Quantum Entanglement Verified

This research demonstrates that verifying the Schrödinger equation for a single delocalized quantum system, using existing matter-wave interferometers, indirectly proves the existence of gravity-mediated entanglement between two such systems. The findings establish a connection between a relatively simple experiment, testing the validity of fundamental quantum mechanics for a single particle, and a long-sought confirmation of entanglement arising from gravitational interaction. This offers a pathway towards experimentally demonstrating gravity-mediated entanglement without requiring the complex setups previously proposed, which were beyond near-term technological capabilities. The authors acknowledge that their proofs rely on certain assumptions regarding the experimental setup and the nature of quantum systems, and they outline how additional experiments could address these points. While the research does not definitively resolve all questions surrounding quantum gravity, it significantly narrows the experimental challenge, suggesting that current technology is sufficient to provide evidence for entanglement created by gravity, provided the Schrödinger equation holds for delocalized systems as expected. This work therefore represents a crucial step towards bridging the gap between quantum mechanics and general relativity, offering a feasible route to explore the quantum nature of gravity.