Viewpoint: Measuring the Tidal Force on a Particle’s Matter Wave

Matt Jaffe, Holger Müller

Published May 1, 2017• 0 citations

Abstract

The effect of the tidal force, which is directly related to the curvature of spacetime, on an individual particle’s wave function has been measured with an atom interferometer.

Related papers

Phase Shift in an Atom Interferometer due to Spacetime Curvature across its Wave Function

Peter Asenbaum, Chris Overstreet, Tim Kovachy +3 more

Spacetime curvature induces tidal forces on the wave function of a single quantum system. Using a dual light-pulse atom interferometer, we measure a phase shift associated with such tidal forces. The macroscopic spatial superposition state in each interferometer (extending over 16 cm) acts as a nonlocal probe of the spacetime manifold. Additionally, we utilize the dual atom interferometer as a gradiometer for precise gravitational measurements.

arXiv:1610.03832Physical Review LettersMay 1, 2017250 citations

Viewpoint: Matter-Wave Self-Interferometry

Ernst Maria Rasel

The demonstration of a single-particle interferometer opens the door to a number of applications, from investigations of gravity to surface impact physics.

Dec 3, 20120 citations

Measuring the Tidal Force on a Particle’s Matter Wave

Matt Jaffe, Holger Müller

Spacetime curvature induces tidal forces on the wave function of a single quantum system.Using a dual light-pulse atom interferometer, we measure a phase shift associated with such tidal forces.The macroscopic spatial superposition state in each interferometer (extending over 16 cm) acts as a nonlocal probe of the spacetime manifold.Additionally, we utilize the dual atom interferometer as a gradiometer for precise gravitational measurements.

PhysicsMay 1, 20173 citations

Semiclassical phases of charged spin-$1/2$ matter-wave interferometers in gravitational wave backgrounds

Nontapat Wanwieng, Apimook Watcharangkool

gr-qcCross-listedarXiv:2604.24751Apr 28, 2026

Quantum probe of space-time curvature

Albert Roura

An atom interferometer measures the quantum phase due to gravitational time dilation.

ScienceJan 14, 202213 citations

Matter-Wave Self-Interferometry

Ernst Maria Rasel

The demonstration of a single-particle interferometer opens the door to a number of applications, from investigations of gravity to surface impact physics.

PhysicsDec 3, 20120 citations

Viewpoint: Measuring the Tidal Force on a Particle’s Matter Wave

Matt Jaffe, Holger Müller

Published May 1, 2017• 0 citations

OpenAlex

Abstract

The effect of the tidal force, which is directly related to the curvature of spacetime, on an individual particle’s wave function has been measured with an atom interferometer.

Related papers

Phase Shift in an Atom Interferometer due to Spacetime Curvature across its Wave Function

Peter Asenbaum, Chris Overstreet, Tim Kovachy +3 more

arXiv:1610.03832Physical Review LettersMay 1, 2017250 citations

Viewpoint: Matter-Wave Self-Interferometry

Ernst Maria Rasel

The demonstration of a single-particle interferometer opens the door to a number of applications, from investigations of gravity to surface impact physics.

Dec 3, 20120 citations

Measuring the Tidal Force on a Particle’s Matter Wave

Matt Jaffe, Holger Müller

Spacetime curvature induces tidal forces on the wave function of a single quantum system.Using a dual light-pulse atom interferometer, we measure a phase shift associated with such tidal forces.The macroscopic spatial superposition state in each interferometer (extending over 16 cm) acts as a nonlocal probe of the spacetime manifold.Additionally, we utilize the dual atom interferometer as a gradiometer for precise gravitational measurements.

PhysicsMay 1, 20173 citations

Semiclassical phases of charged spin- $1/2$ matter-wave interferometers in gravitational wave backgroundsSemiclassical phases of charged spin-$1/2$ matter-wave interferometers in gravitational wave backgrounds

Nontapat Wanwieng, Apimook Watcharangkool

A matter wave propagating through curved spacetime accumulates phase that encodes both geometry and gauge structure. We develop a semiclassical framework for charged spin- $1/2$ matter-wave interferometers based on a WKB expansion of the covariant Dirac equation, in which the phase decomposes into dynamical, spin, and electromagnetic Aharonov-Bohm (AB) contributions. In a freely falling detector frame, all three channels are governed by local tidal fields. In a weak gravitational-wave (GW) background, the dynamical and spin phases probe the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic sectors of curvature, while the AB phase arises from curvature-induced electromagnetic fields obtained from Maxwell's equations in curved spacetime. For a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), all three responses are determined by the same tidal scale, $\ddot{h}_A \sim Ω^2_{gw}h_0$ , and filtered by a common geometric kernel, while entering through distinct physical couplings. In particular, the AB contribution depends not only on the enclosed flux but also on spatial variations of the induced fields and exhibits an intrinsic frequency dependence set by the traversal time. These results provide a unified description of matter-wave interferometric phases in time-dependent GW backgrounds and identify complementary dynamical, spin, and electromagnetic pathways through which spacetime curvature imprints itself on quantum interference.A matter wave propagating through curved spacetime accumulates phase that encodes both geometry and gauge structure. We develop a semiclassical framework for charged spin-$1/2$ matter-wave interferometers based on a WKB expansion of the covariant Dirac equation, in which the phase decomposes into dynamical, spin, and electromagnetic Aharonov-Bohm (AB) contributions. In a freely falling detector frame, all three channels are governed by local tidal fields. In a weak gravitational-wave (GW) background, the dynamical and spin phases probe the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic sectors of curvature, while the AB phase arises from curvature-induced electromagnetic fields obtained from Maxwell's equations in curved spacetime. For a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), all three responses are determined by the same tidal scale, $\ddot{h}_A \sim Ω^2_{gw}h_0$, and filtered by a common geometric kernel, while entering through distinct physical couplings. In particular, the AB contribution depends not only on the enclosed flux but also on spatial variations of the induced fields and exhibits an intrinsic frequency dependence set by the traversal time. These results provide a unified description of matter-wave interferometric phases in time-dependent GW backgrounds and identify complementary dynamical, spin, and electromagnetic pathways through which spacetime curvature imprints itself on quantum interference.

gr-qcCross-listedarXiv:2604.24751Apr 28, 2026

Quantum probe of space-time curvature

Albert Roura

An atom interferometer measures the quantum phase due to gravitational time dilation.

ScienceJan 14, 202213 citations

Matter-Wave Self-Interferometry

Ernst Maria Rasel

The demonstration of a single-particle interferometer opens the door to a number of applications, from investigations of gravity to surface impact physics.

PhysicsDec 3, 20120 citations

Semiclassical phases of charged spin-

1/2

matter-wave interferometers in gravitational wave backgrounds

A matter wave propagating through curved spacetime accumulates phase that encodes both geometry and gauge structure. We develop a semiclassical framework for charged spin-

1/2

matter-wave interferometers based on a WKB expansion of the covariant Dirac equation, in which the phase decomposes into dynamical, spin, and electromagnetic Aharonov-Bohm (AB) contributions. In a freely falling detector frame, all three channels are governed by local tidal fields. In a weak gravitational-wave (GW) background, the dynamical and spin phases probe the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic sectors of curvature, while the AB phase arises from curvature-induced electromagnetic fields obtained from Maxwell's equations in curved spacetime. For a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), all three responses are determined by the same tidal scale,

\ddot{h}_A \sim Ω^2_{gw}h_0

, and filtered by a common geometric kernel, while entering through distinct physical couplings. In particular, the AB contribution depends not only on the enclosed flux but also on spatial variations of the induced fields and exhibits an intrinsic frequency dependence set by the traversal time. These results provide a unified description of matter-wave interferometric phases in time-dependent GW backgrounds and identify complementary dynamical, spin, and electromagnetic pathways through which spacetime curvature imprints itself on quantum interference.