English

Which quantum theory must be reconciled with gravity? (And what does it mean for black holes?)

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2016-10-21 v2

Abstract

We consider the nature of quantum properties in non-relativistic quantum mechanics (QM) and relativistic QFTs, and examine the connection between formal quantization schemes and intuitive notions of wave-particle duality. Based on the map between classical Poisson brackets and their associated commutators, such schemes give rise to quantum states obeying canonical dispersion relations, obtained by substituting the de Broglie relations into the relevant (classical) energy-momentum relation. In canonical QM, this yields a dispersion relation involving \hbar but not cc, whereas the canonical relativistic dispersion relation involves both. Extending this logic to the canonical quantization of the gravitational field gives rise to loop quantum gravity, and a map between classical variables containing GG and cc, and associated commutators involving \hbar. This naturally defines a "wave-gravity duality", suggesting that a quantum wave packet describing {\it self-gravitating matter} obeys a dispersion relation involving GG, cc and \hbar. We propose an ansatz for this relation, which is valid in the semi-Newtonian regime of both QM and general relativity. In this limit, space and time are absolute, but imposing vmax=cv_{\rm max} = c allows us to recover the standard expressions for the Compton wavelength λC\lambda_C and the Schwarzschild radius rSr_S within the same ontological framework. The new dispersion relation is based on "extended" de Broglie relations, which remain valid for slow-moving bodies of {\it any} mass mm. These reduce to canonical form for mmPm \ll m_P, yielding λC\lambda_C from the standard uncertainty principle, whereas, for mmPm \gg m_P, we obtain rSr_S as the natural radius of a self-gravitating quantum object. Thus, the extended de Broglie theory naturally gives rise to a unified description of black holes and fundamental particles in the semi-Newtonian regime.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1607.03689,
  title  = {Which quantum theory must be reconciled with gravity? (And what does it mean for black holes?)},
  author = {Matthew J. Lake},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1607.03689},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

38 pages, 5 figures. Invited contribution to the Universe special issue "Open questions in black hole physics" (Gonzalo J. Olmo, Ed.). Matches published version