Gravitational entanglement and the mass contribution of internal energy in nonrelativistic quantum systems

Abstract

Recently, interest has increased in the entanglement of remote quantum particles through the Newtonian gravitational interaction, both from a fundamental perspective and as a test case for the quantization of gravity. Likewise, post-Newtonian gravitational effects in composite nonrelativistic quantum systems have been discussed, where the internal energy contributes to the mass, promoting the mass to a Hilbert space operator. Employing a modified version of a previously considered thought experiment, it can be shown that both concepts, when combined, result in inconsistencies, reinforcing the arguments for the necessity of a rigorous derivation of the nonrelativistic limit of gravitating quantum matter from first principles.

Essay written for the Gravity Research Foundation 2022 Awards for Essays on Gravitation

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