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American Journal of Physics

Einstein's equivalence principle in quantum mechanics revisited

Michael Nauenberg

Published Oct 20, 2016• 34 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The gravitational equivalence principle in quantum mechanics is of considerable importance, but it is generally not included in physics textbooks. In this note, we present a precise quantum formulation of this principle and comment on its verification in a neutron diffraction experiment. The solution of the time dependent Schrödinger equation for this problem also gives the wave function for the motion of a charged particle in a homogeneous electric field, which is also usually ignored in textbooks on quantum mechanics.

DOI
10.1119/1.4962981

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The gravitational equivalence principle in quantum mechanics is of considerable importance, but it is generally not included in physics textbooks. In this note, we present a precise quantum formulation of this principle and comment on its verification in a neutron diffraction experiment. The solution of the time dependent Schrödinger equation for this problem also gives the wave function for the motion of a charged particle in a homogeneous electric field, which is also usually ignored in textbooks on quantum mechanics.
We investigate the interaction of the gravitational field with a quantum particle. We derive the wave equation in the curved galilean spacetime from the very broad Quantum mechanical assumptions and from covariance under the Milne group. The inertial and gravitational masses are equal in that equation. So, we give the proof of the equality for the non-relativistic quantum particle, without applying the equivalence principle to the Schrödinger equation and witout imposing any relation to the classical equations of motion. This result constitutes a substantial strengthening of the previous result obtained by Herdegen and the author.
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.
It is often claimed that Einstein is wrong about quantum mechanics. However, when comparisons are made with respect to theoretical foundations rather than experimental results Einstein’s theories are found to be superior. Although quantum mechanics correctly describes energy exchange due to emissions with remarkable accuracy it ignores momentum exchange (the absorptions), thereby failing to recognize their causal relationship due to the conservation laws. The deficiencies in non-relativistic theory are corrected by introducing Hamilton’s principle and deriving relativistic equations of motion. This allows wave function behavior to be described as the combined action of a particle and an associated localized field. The calculus of variations is applied to the Schrödinger wave equation to show that it is incomplete because it yields twice the allowable action minimum.
1: The Birth of Quantum Theory. 1.1: The radiation of an ideal black body. 1.2: Line spectra and Bohr's model of the atom. 1.3: The quantum conditions of Bohr-Sommerfield. 1.4: Waves of matters. Comments. Problems. 2: Classical Physics - Quantum Physics. 2.1: The difficulties of classical theory. 2.2: The successes of quantum theory. 2.3: Problems with interpretation of quantum theory. 2.4: Quantum theory (1930. Problems. II: Schrodinger's Equation and the Interpretation of its Solutions. 3: Schrodinger's Equation. 3.1: The Schrodinger equation with time. 3.2: The time-dependent Schrodinger equation. Comments. Problems. 4: The Probabilistic Interpretation of the Wavefunction. Comments. Problems. 5: The Motion of a Free Particle in Wave Mechanics. 5.1: The spreading of wave packets. 5.2: The initial problem for Schrodinger's free particle equation. 5.3: The Gaussian wave packet. Comments. Problems. 6: The Momentum of a Particle and the Fourier Transformation of the Wavefunction. Comments. Problems. 7: Description of Experiments in Wave Mechanics and the Heinsberg Uncertainty Principle. 7.1: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. 7.2: The entropic uncertainty principle. Comments. Problems. 8: A Charged Particle in an Electromagnetic Field. Comments. Problems. 9: The Hydrodynamic Formulation of Wave Mechanics. 9.1: The motion of the probability fluid in an electromagnetic field. Comments. Problems. 10: The Spin of the Elctron and Pauli's Equation. 10.1: The magnetic moment vector. 10.2: Pauli's equation. 10.3: The Stern-Gerlach experiments. Comments. Problems. 11: The Hydrodynamic Picture of Wave Mechanics of a Particle with Spin. Comments. Problems. 12: Ehrenfest's Equations. 12.1: A particle with spin in the electromagnetic field. Problems. 13: Descriptiopn of Particle Motion in Phase Space -- Wigner's Function. Comments. Problems. 14: Mixed States. 14.1: An unpolarized beam as a mixed state. Comments. Problems. III: Solutions of Schrodinger's Equation. 15: Classification of Solutions to Schrodinger's Equation. 15.1: Scattering states. 15.2: The completeness of the set of bound and scattering state wavefunctions. 15.3: Orthogonality of the wavefunctions. 15.4: Development of the system in time. 15.5: Bound and scattered states. Problems. 16: Bound States and Energy. 16.1: The three-dimensional spherically symmetric potential well. Comments. Problems. 17: Scattering States and Collision Cross-sections. 17.1: One-dimensional scattering. 17.2: The method of integral equations. 17.3: Three-dimensional scattering. 17.4: The scattering amplitude. 17.5: The S matrix. 17.6: Collision cross-section. 17.7: The optical theorem. Comments. Problems. 18: Partial Waves and Wave Effects in Scattering. 18.1: Phase shifts. 18.2: The spherical potential hump. 18.3: The Ramsauer-Townsend effect. 18.4: The extinction paradox. Comments. Problems. 19: Resonance States. Problems. 20: The Coulomb Potential. 20.1: Bound states. 20.2: Scattering states. Comments. Problems. 21
New insight on the principles of the quantum physics development is given. The quite different behavior of quantum microworld mechanical systems in comparison with classical mechanical macroworld systems is attributed to the drastical change of the role of the gravitation field on the dynamics of microworld mechanical systems, for which it seems to be vanishing in com- parison with the role of the gravitation field on the dynamics of macroworld mechanical systems, for which it is decisive. The conclusion on the status of the second main postulate of quantum mechanics is given. Its formulation in all textbooks has to be represented in the form of the proved statement, since the hypothesis of Schrödinger on the existence of the field scalar function, being to be observable quantity, just charge density, is strictly mathematically proved. It is shown, that the field scalar function, being to be the solution of the corresponding nonstationary in general case Schrödinger equation and being to be the function the only of coordinates and time, actually describes the state of the atomic system, more strictly its corpuscular aspect. The atomic system is considered from the positions of the field theory, that is, it is the association of elementary particles with corresponding fields. The given fields being to be the media for the particles’ propagation are responsible for the wave aspect in the characteristic of atomic systems. The wave aspect is described by the independent scalar wave-function which was also introduced in quantum physics by Schrödinger, althogh the given fact seems to be unknown to the wide circle of the readers. The second main postulate being to be mathematically strictly grounded in Schrödinger formulation of quantum nechanics, in the popular probabilistic form of quantum nechanics cannot be proved for the general case, although the probabilistic theatise, proposed by Born is true in a number of special cases, quite correctly indicated by Dirac. The possible ways of the development of quantum theory, based on clear understanding of the origin of corpuscular-wave dualism and based on the fundamental both now mathemtically grounded main postulates are analysed.