Spontaneous localization on a brane via a gravitational mechanism

Some physicists surmise that gravity lies outside of quantum mechanics. Thus theories like the standard semiclassical theory of quantum to gravity coupling (that of Rosenfeld and Møller) are possible real models of interaction, rather than a mere approximation of a theory of quantum gravity. Unfortunately, semiclassical gravity creates inconsistencies such as superluminal communication. Alternatives by authors such as Diósi, Martin, Penrose, and Wang often use the term 'stochastic' to set themselves apart from the standard semiclassical theory. These theories couple to fluctuations caused by for instance continuous spontaneous localization, hence the term 'stochastic'. This paper looks at stochastic gravity in the framework of a class of emergent or ontological quantum theories, such as those by Bohm, Cetto, and de Broglie. It is found that much or all of the trouble in connecting gravity with a microscopic system falls away, as Einstein's general relativity is free to react directly with the microscopic beables. The resulting continuous gravitational wave radiation by atomic and nuclear systems does not, in contrast to Einstein's speculation, cause catastrophic problems. The small amount of energy exchanged by gravitational waves may have measurable experimental consequences. A very recent experiment by Vinante et al. performed on a small cantilever at mK temperatures shows a surprising non-thermal noise component, the magnitude of which is consistent with the stochastic gravity coupling explored here.

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Discussions about the landscape of possibilities for treatments of cosmic inflation involving continuous spontaneous localization models

The European Physical Journal C ◽

10.1140/epjc/s10052-020-08599-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Gabriel R. Bengochea ◽

Gabriel León ◽

Philip Pearle ◽

Daniel Sudarsky

Keyword(s):

General Nature ◽

Quantum Field ◽

Microwave Background ◽

Cosmic Inflation ◽

Cosmological Context ◽

Generating Operator ◽

General Relativistic ◽

Spontaneous Localization ◽

Parameter Values ◽

Continuous Spontaneous Localization

AbstractIn this work we consider a wide variety of alternatives opened when applying the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) dynamical collapse theory to the inflationary era. The definitive resolution of many of the issues discussed here will have to await, not only for a general relativistic CSL theory, but for a fully workable theory of quantum gravity. Our concern here is to explore these issues, and to warn against premature conclusions. This exploration includes: two different approaches to deal with quantum field theory and gravitation, the identification of the collapse-generating operator and the general nature and values of the parameters of the CSL theory. All the choices connected with these issues have the potential to dramatically alter the conclusions one can draw. We also argue that the incompatibilities found in a recent paper, between the CSL parameter values and the cosmic microwave background observational data, are associated with specific choices made for the extrapolation to the cosmological context of the CSL theory (as it is known to work in non-relativistic laboratory situations) which do not represent the most natural ones.

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Primary state diffusion

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspa.1994.0135 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 447 (1929) ◽

pp. 189-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Keyword(s):

Quantum State ◽

State Vector ◽

Quantum Dynamics ◽

Diffusion Theory ◽

The State ◽

Classical Dynamics ◽

State Diffusion ◽

Quantum State Diffusion ◽

Spontaneous Localization ◽

Ordinary Quantum

Primary quantum state diffusion (PSD) theory is an alternative quantum theory from which classical dynamics, quantum dynamics and localization dynamics are derived. It is based on four principles, that a system is represented by an operator, its state by a normalized state vector, the state vector satisfies a Langevin-Itô state diffusion equation, and the resultant density operator for an ensemble must satisfy an equation of elementary Lindblad form. There are three conditions. The ז 0 first determines the operator, to within an undetermined universal time constant ז 0 . The second and third conditions put opposing bounds on ז 0 . Dissipation of coherence is distinguished from destruction of coherence. The state diffusion destroys coherence and produces the localization or reduction that makes classical dynamics possible. PSD theory is a development of the environmental quantum state diffusion theory of Gisin and Percival and particularly resembles earlier proposals by Gisin and by Milburn. It is also related to the spontaneous localization theories of Ghirardi, Rimini and Weber, of Diósi and of Pearle. The non-relativistic PSD theory is of value only for systems which occupy small regions of space. Special relativity is needed for more extended systems even when they contain only slowly moving massive particles. Experiments on coherence lifetimes and matter interferometry are proposed which either measure ז 0 or put bounds on it, and which might distinguish between PSD and ordinary quantum mechanics.

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