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Gravitomagnetism and Quantum Mechanics

A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Black Holes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 10461

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1: Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
2: OATO, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, 00136 Roma, Italy
Interests: gravity; cosmology; gravitomagnetism; space physics; complex systems

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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Matematica "G. Peano", Università degli studi di Torino, 10123 Torin, Italy
Interests: rotation effects in relativity; gravitomagnetic effects in general relativity; rotating observers in special relativity; gravitational theories with torsion (Einstein–Cartan theory); relativistic theories of gravity and experimental tests; gravitational waves; relativistic positioning systems
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gravitomagnetism is an ultra-weak effect of general relativity. Its direct detection is comparatively recent and based on analysis of the orbits of satellites around Earth. Indirect evidence may be found in the dynamics of the double pulsar system and other analogous systems. Other experiments exploiting ring lasers have been envisaged or are being implemented. It is worth seeing where we are on the side of experimental characterization of these effects. At the same time, there are e number of questions which should be posed and discussed. Is there a link between gravitomagnetic effects and dark matter in our galaxy and in the visible universe? What role has gravitomagnetism played during the early phases of the evolution of the universe?

The most puzzling question is, however, has gravitomagnetism anything to do with quantum mechanics? On the experimental side, it is interesting to investigate the role that could be played by macroscopic atomic systems. An example is the use of atomic or particle beams, occasionally envisaged in the past in Sagnac-like experiments. A fascinating opportunity could be the use of quantum fluids, such as helium liquids, or superconducting devices. On the conceptual side, we know that quantum mechanics is fully compatible with special relativity and conflicting with general relativity. What about gravitomagnetism? Its relevance may be fully negligible because of the smallness of the effects; however, the relevant aspect is what gravitomagnetism, when it is not a simple coordinate effect, has to do with space–time symmetries. Would this have a subtle influence on atomic systems? Formally exiting the domain of gravitomagnetism, we find another interesting possibility, fully compatible with general relativity and connected with symmetries: this is torsion.

As we can see, there are plenty of good reasons to discuss gravitomagnetism and quantum mechanics.

Prof. Angelo Tartaglia
Dr. Matteo Luca Ruggiero
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • gravitomagnetism
  • Lense–Thirring drag
  • ring lasers
  • dark matter
  • quantum fluids
  • space–time symmetries
  • torsion

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 327 KiB  
Article
Quantum Theory of Massless Particles in Stationary Axially Symmetric Spacetimes
by Amnon Moalem and Alexander Gersten
Entropy 2021, 23(9), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/e23091205 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1686
Abstract
Quantum equations for massless particles of any spin are considered in stationary uncharged axially symmetric spacetimes. It is demonstrated that up to a normalization function, the angular wave function does not depend on the metric and practically is the same as in the [...] Read more.
Quantum equations for massless particles of any spin are considered in stationary uncharged axially symmetric spacetimes. It is demonstrated that up to a normalization function, the angular wave function does not depend on the metric and practically is the same as in the Minkowskian case. The radial wave functions satisfy second order nonhomogeneous differential equations with three nonhomogeneous terms, which depend in a unique way on time and space curvatures. In agreement with the principle of equivalence, these terms vanish locally, and the radial equations reduce to the same homogeneous equations as in Minkowski spacetime. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitomagnetism and Quantum Mechanics)
12 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Gravitomagnetic Stern–Gerlach Force
by Bahram Mashhoon
Entropy 2021, 23(4), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/e23040445 - 9 Apr 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2062
Abstract
A heuristic description of the spin-rotation-gravity coupling is presented and the implications of the corresponding gravitomagnetic Stern–Gerlach force are briefly mentioned. It is shown, within the framework of linearized general relativity, that the gravitomagnetic Stern–Gerlach force reduces in the appropriate correspondence limit to [...] Read more.
A heuristic description of the spin-rotation-gravity coupling is presented and the implications of the corresponding gravitomagnetic Stern–Gerlach force are briefly mentioned. It is shown, within the framework of linearized general relativity, that the gravitomagnetic Stern–Gerlach force reduces in the appropriate correspondence limit to the classical Mathisson spin-curvature force. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitomagnetism and Quantum Mechanics)
9 pages, 255 KiB  
Article
From Kerr to Heisenberg
by Angelo Tartaglia and Matteo Luca Ruggiero
Entropy 2021, 23(3), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/e23030315 - 7 Mar 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1710
Abstract
In this paper, we consider the space-time of a charged mass endowed with an angular momentum. The geometry is described by the exact Kerr–Newman solution of the Einstein equations. The peculiar symmetry, though exact, is usually described in terms of the gravito-magnetic field [...] Read more.
In this paper, we consider the space-time of a charged mass endowed with an angular momentum. The geometry is described by the exact Kerr–Newman solution of the Einstein equations. The peculiar symmetry, though exact, is usually described in terms of the gravito-magnetic field originated by the angular momentum of the source. A typical product of this geometry is represented by the generalized Sagnac effect. We write down the explicit form for the right/left asymmetry of the times of flight of two counter-rotating light beams along a circular trajectory. Letting the circle shrink to the origin the asymmetry stays finite. Furthermore it becomes independent both from the charge of the source (then its electromagnetic field) and from Newton’s constant: it is then associated only to the symmetry produced by the gravitomagnetic field. When introducing, for the source, the spin of a Fermion, the lowest limit of the Heisenberg uncertainty formula for energy and time appears. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitomagnetism and Quantum Mechanics)
14 pages, 313 KiB  
Article
Possible Alterations of Local Gravitational Field Inside a Superconductor
by Giovanni Alberto Ummarino and Antonio Gallerati
Entropy 2021, 23(2), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/e23020193 - 5 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1971
Abstract
We calculate the possible interaction between a superconductor and the static Earth’s gravitational fields, making use of the gravito-Maxwell formalism combined with the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau theory. We try to estimate which are the most favorable conditions to enhance the effect, optimizing the superconductor [...] Read more.
We calculate the possible interaction between a superconductor and the static Earth’s gravitational fields, making use of the gravito-Maxwell formalism combined with the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau theory. We try to estimate which are the most favorable conditions to enhance the effect, optimizing the superconductor parameters characterizing the chosen sample. We also give a qualitative comparison of the behavior of high–Tc and classical low–Tc superconductors with respect to the gravity/superfluid interplay. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitomagnetism and Quantum Mechanics)
19 pages, 455 KiB  
Article
Some Classical and Quantum Aspects of Gravitoelectromagnetism
by Giorgio Papini
Entropy 2020, 22(10), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/e22101089 - 27 Sep 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2048
Abstract
It has been shown that, even in linear gravitation, the curvature of space-time can induce ground state degeneracy in quantum systems, break the continuum symmetry of the vacuum and give rise to condensation in a system of identical particles. Condensation takes the form [...] Read more.
It has been shown that, even in linear gravitation, the curvature of space-time can induce ground state degeneracy in quantum systems, break the continuum symmetry of the vacuum and give rise to condensation in a system of identical particles. Condensation takes the form of a temperature-dependent correlation over distances, of momenta oscillations about an average momentum, of vortical structures and of a positive gravitational susceptibility. In the interaction with quantum matter and below a certain range, gravity is carried by an antisymmetric, second order tensor that satisfies Maxwell-type equations. Some classical and quantum aspects of this type of “gravitoelectromagnetism” were investigated. Gravitational analogues of the laws of Curie and Bloch were found for a one-dimensional model. A critical temperature for a change in phase from unbound to isolated vortices can be calculated using an XY-model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitomagnetism and Quantum Mechanics)
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