Quantum clocks and the foundations of relativity

Paul C. W. Davies

doi:10.1117/12.547361

25 May 2004 Quantum clocks and the foundations of relativity

Paul C. W. Davies

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Proceedings Volume 5472, Noise and Information in Nanoelectronics, Sensors, and Standards II; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.547361
Event: Second International Symposium on Fluctuations and Noise, 2004, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria Island, Spain

Abstract

The conceptual foundations of the special and general theories of relativity differ greatly from those of quantum mechanics. Yet in all cases investigated so far, quantum mechanics seems to be consistent with the principles of relativity theory, when interpreted carefully. In this paper I report on a new investigation of this consistency using a model of a quantum clock to measure time intervals; a topic central to all metric theories of gravitation, and to cosmology. Results are presented for two important scenarios related to the foundations of relativity theory: the speed of light as a limiting velocity and the weak equivalence principle (WEP). These topics are investigated in the light of claims of superluminal propagation in quantum tunnelling and possible violations of WEP. Special attention is given to the role of highly non-classical states. I find that by using a definition of time intervals based on a precise model of a quantum clock, ambiguities are avoided and, at least in the scenarios investigated, there is consistency with the theory of relativity, albeit with some subtleties.

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Paul C. W. Davies "Quantum clocks and the foundations of relativity", Proc. SPIE 5472, Noise and Information in Nanoelectronics, Sensors, and Standards II, (25 May 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.547361

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