Quantum Zeno effect and the detection of gravitomagnetism

Abstract

In this work we introduce two experimental proposals that could shed some light upon the inertial properties of intrinsic spin. In particular we will analyze the role that the gravitomagnetic field of the Earth could have on a quantum system with spin 1/2. We will deduce the expression for Rabi transitions, which depend, explicitly, on the coupling between the spin of the quantum system and the gravitomagnetic field of the Earth. Afterwards, the continuous measurement of the energy of the spin 1/2 system is considered, and an expression for the emerging quantum Zeno effect is obtained. Thus, it will be proved that gravitomagnetism, in connection with spin 1/2 systems, could induce not only Rabi transitions but also a quantum Zeno effect.

Essay awarded with an ``honorable mention'' in the Annual Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 2000, four new references, discussion enlarged, 9 pages. Accepted in International Journal of Modern Physics D

References in corpus (3)

• On a New Non-Geometric Element in Gravity
• On the spin-rotation-gravity coupling
• Quantum Zeno Effect with the Feynman-Mensky Path-Integral Approach

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Phenomenology of the Lense-Thirring effect in the Solar System
• Gravitomagnetic Moments and Dynamics of Dirac's (spin 1/2) fermions in flat space-time Maxwellian Gravity
• Gravito-electromagnetic Effects of Massive Rings
• Gravitomagnetic Field of Rotating Rings
• Gravitomagnetism in Metric Theories: Analysis of Earth Satellites Results, and its Coupling with Spin