Abstract: We study how single- and double-slit interference patterns fall in the presence of gravity. First, we demonstrate that universality of free fall still holds in this case, i.e., interference patterns fall just like classical objects. Next, we explore lowest order relativistic effects in the Newtonian regime by employing a recent quantum formalism which treats mass as an operator. This leads to interactions between non-degenerate internal degrees of freedom (like spin in an external magnetic field) and external degrees of freedom (like position). Based on these effects, we present an unusual phenomenon, in which a falling double slit interference pattern periodically decoheres and recoheres. The oscillations in the visibility of this interference occur due to correlations built up between spin and position. Finally, we connect the interference visibility revivals with non-Markovian quantum dynamics.
Recommendations
- DECOHERENCE AND MATTER WAVE INTERFEROMETRY
- Equivalence principle for quantum systems: dephasing and phase shift of free-falling particles
- Double-slit interference pattern from single-slit screen and its gravitational analogues
- Gravitational decoherence for mesoscopic systems
- Destruction of interference by entanglement.
Cited in
(7)- Interesting examples of violation of the classical equivalence principle but not of the weak one
- Do Bloch waves interfere with one another ?
- Double-slit interference pattern from single-slit screen and its gravitational analogues
- Coherence loss and revivals in atomic interferometry: a quantum-recoil analysis
- Equivalence principle for quantum systems: dephasing and phase shift of free-falling particles
- Gravitational decoherence of dark matter
- Understanding quantum interference in general nonlocality
This page was built for publication: How does interference fall?
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q5358017)
