Physical Review A

Gravity and inertia in quantum mechanics

J.-L. Staudenmann, S. Werner, R. Colella, A. W. Overhauser

Published May 1, 1980• 226 citations

Abstract

The experiments described in this paper probe the simultaneous effects of gravity, inertia, and quantum mechanics on the motion of the neutron. Using a neutron interferometer of the type developed by Bonse and Hart for x rays, we have observed quantum-mechanical interference phenomena induced by the gravitational field of the Earth and by the Earth's rotation relative to the fixed stars. The importance of these experiments with regard to the role of the principle of equivalence in quantum mechanics is discussed.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.21.1419

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