• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Force-Free Gravitational Redshift: Proposed Gravitational Aharonov-Bohm Experiment

Michael A. Hohensee, Brian Estey, Paul Hamilton, Anton Zeilinger, and Holger Müller
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 230404 – Published 7 June 2012
Physics logo See Synopsis: The Gravitational Aharonov-Bohm Effect

Abstract

We propose a feasible laboratory interferometry experiment with matter waves in a gravitational potential caused by a pair of artificial field-generating masses. It will demonstrate that the presence of these masses (and, for moving atoms, time dilation) induces a phase shift, even if it does not cause any classical force. The phase shift is identical to that produced by the gravitational redshift (or time dilation) of clocks ticking at the atom’s Compton frequency. In analogy to the Aharonov-Bohm effect in electromagnetism, the quantum mechanical phase is a function of the gravitational potential and not the classical forces.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 22 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.230404

© 2012 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

The Gravitational Aharonov-Bohm Effect

Published 7 June 2012

The gravitational version of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, where particles are affected by the gravitational potential in the absence of a force, could be demonstrated in a lab-scale experiment using ultracold atoms.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Michael A. Hohensee1,*, Brian Estey1, Paul Hamilton1, Anton Zeilinger2, and Holger Müller1

  • 1Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
  • 2University of Vienna and Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Wien, Austria

  • *hohensee@berkeley.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 23 — 8 June 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×