Conflict between the classical equivalence principle and quantum mechanics


Autoria(s): Accioly, Antonio; Paszko, Ricardo
Contribuinte(s)

Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Data(s)

27/05/2014

27/05/2014

11/05/2009

Resumo

As far as external gravitational fields described by Newton's theory are concerned, theory shows that there is an unavoidable conflict between the universality of free fall (Galileo's equivalence principle) and quantum mechanics - a result confirmed by experiment. Is this conflict due perhaps to the use of Newton's gravity, instead of general relativity, in the analysis of the external gravitational field? The response is negative. To show this we compute the low corrections to the cross-section for the scattering of different quantum particles by an external gravitational field, treated as an external field, in the framework of Einstein's linearized gravity. To first order the cross-sections are spin-dependent; if the calculations are pushed to the next order they become dependent upon energy as well. Therefore, the Galileo's equivalence and, consequently, the classical equivalence principle, is violated in both cases. We address these issues here.

Formato

65-78

Identificador

http://www.m-hikari.com/astp/astp2009/astp1-4-2009/acciolyASTP1-4-2009.pdf

Advanced Studies in Theoretical Physics, v. 3, n. 2, p. 65-78, 2009.

1313-311

http://hdl.handle.net/11449/71008

2-s2.0-65449138736

Idioma(s)

eng

Relação

Advanced Studies in Theoretical Physics

Direitos

openAccess

Palavras-Chave #Energy-dependent cross-section #Quantum mechanics #Spin-dependent cross-section #Violation of the classical equivalence principle
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article