New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
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Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#2> A second paper, published simultaneously in Nature Communications and led by Professor Oppenheim's former Ph.D. students, looks at some of the consequences of the theory, and proposes an experiment to test it: to measure a mass very precisely to see if its weight appears to fluctuate over time.
Definitely don't know enough to comment about the overall proposal, but given how many grand physics theories over the past couple decades have been untestable, it's really nice to see the proponents proposing a test.
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#3The various standard kilograms held by the national bodies, and the prototype standard kilogram in paris, were measured very precisely over the past hundred years, and their weights did seem to diverge mysteriously.
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#4The various standard kilograms held by the national bodies, and the prototype standard kilogram in paris, were measured very precisely over the past hundred years, and their weights did seem to diverge mysteriously.
What made them mysterious? Aren't there always some fraction of atoms or molecules with sufficiently high energy to escape the object?
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#5Is there a decent explanation of what the conflict is about, that is understandable with a non-physics-major college level maths background?
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#6The various standard kilograms held by the national bodies, and the prototype standard kilogram in paris, were measured very precisely over the past hundred years, and their weights did seem to diverge mysteriously.
What made them mysterious? Aren't there always some fraction of atoms or molecules with sufficiently high energy to escape the object?
The fact that you, a random internet guy, knows this makes me believe that the world's top experts on measuring this exact thing probably thought of it, and if there is a mysterious divergence this probably doesn't account for it.
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#7I was really hoping to find concrete details of what the experiment that they proposed to validate or refute their theory is. I hope it's something achievable, or at least not ridiculously far from what we can currently measure
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#8Jonathan Oppenheim:
If you'd like to attend a public lecture (virtual or in London) about the postquantum theory of classical gravity, or contribute a donation to the group's research program, click "Donate" to add your email address to our list.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/oppenheim/research.html
See Also:
Gravitationally induced decoherence vs space-time diffusion: testing the quantum nature of gravity (March 2022) https://arxiv.org/pdf/2203.01982.pdf
Is it time to rethink quantum gravity? (March 2023) https://arxiv.org/pdf/2310.12221.pdf
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#9Is there a decent explanation of what the conflict is about, that is understandable with a non-physics-major college level maths background?
Gravitons don't work as force carriers in quantum field theory because the sums describing them diverge even worse than other sums describing the three other forces; sums which also diverge but can be corrected.
Re: New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
What made them mysterious? Aren't there always some fraction of atoms or molecules with sufficiently high energy to escape the object?
The fact that you, a random internet guy, knows this makes me believe that the world's top experts on measuring this exact thing probably thought of it, and if there is a mysterious divergence this probably doesn't account for it.
I figure as much, but that's kinda why I'm asking what made it mysterious. I actually hadn't heard of it being seen as mysterious until today - that comment is the first time I've seen that. Until today I thought it had been was unsurprising for scientists.