Atom interferometry and the gravitational redshift

DOI10.1088/0264-9381/28/14/145018MaRDI QIDQ3091682zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Supurna Sinha, Joseph Samuel

Publication date 12 September 2011

Published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1102.2587

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Observational and experimental questions in relativity and gravitational theory (83B05) Equations of motion in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C10)

Abstract: From the principle of equivalence, Einstein predicted that clocks slow down in a gravitational field. Since the general theory of relativity is based on the principle of equivalence, it is essential to test this prediction accurately. Muller, Peters and Chu claim that a reinterpretation of decade old experiments with atom interferometers leads to a sensitive test of this gravitational redshift effect at the Compton frequency. Wolf et al dispute this claim and adduce arguments against it. In this article, we distill these arguments to a single fundamental objection: an atom is NOT a clock ticking at the Compton frequency. We conclude that atom interferometry experiments conducted to date do not yield such sensitive tests of the gravitational redshift. Finally, we suggest a new interferometric experiment to measure the gravitational redshift, which realises a quantum version of the classical clock "paradox".

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Cited in

(16)

• Reexamining the roles of gravitational and inertial masses in gravimetry with atom interferometers
• Electrostatic time dilation and redshift
• Limitations of atom interferometry for gravitational wave observations in space
• Atom interferometers and a small-scale test of general relativity
• Analysis of Sun/Moon gravitational redshift tests with the STE-QUEST space mission
• Mechanisms of matter-wave diffraction and their application to interferometers
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• Erratum and addendum to: Atom interferometry and the gravitational redshift
• Weighing photons
• The spectra of gravitational atoms
• A representation-free description of the Kasevich–Chu interferometer: a resolution of the redshift controversy
• Time dilation in quantum systems and decoherence
• A coupling prescription for post-Newtonian corrections in quantum mechanics

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