Quantum equivalence principle without mass superselection

Abstract

The standard argument for the validity of Einstein's equivalence principle in a non-relativistic quantum context involves the application of a mass superselection rule. It is surprising that the consistency between such an important principle and quantum mechanics depends crucially on the imposition of a non-fundamental restriction. The objective of this work is show that, contrary to what the standard account holds, the compatibility between the principle of equivalence and quantum mechanics does not depend on the introduction of such a superselection rule. For this purpose, we consider the extended Galileo group, in which mass is treated as an operator, and show that within this scheme superpositions of different masses behave as they should in order to obey the equivalence principle.

References in corpus (4)

• On the quantum analogue of Galileo's leaning tower experiment
• Non-relativistic limit of quantum field theory in inertial and non-inertial frames and the Principle of Equivalence
• Testing the Equivalence Principle with Unstable Particles
• From Bargmann's superselection rule to quantum Newtonian spacetime

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Galilei covariance and Einstein's equivalence principle in quantum reference frames
• Lorentz-violating scalar Hamiltonian and equivalence principle in a static metric
• Physical quantities and spatial parameters in the complex octonion curved space
• Quantum Origin of (Newtonian) Mass and Galilean Relativity Symmetry
• Equivalence principle and quantum mechanics: quantum simulation with entangled photons
• Testing the weak equivalence principle for nonclassical matter with torsion balances
• Puzzling out the mass-superselection rule