Evidencing quantum gravity with thermodynamical observables
Proposed experiments for obtaining empirical evidence for a quantum description of gravity in a tabletop setting focus on detecting quantum information signatures, such as entanglement or non-Gaussianity production, in gravitationally interacting quantum systems. Here, we explore an alternative approach where the quantization of gravity could be inferred through measurements of macroscopic, thermodynamical quantities, without the need for addressability of individual quantum systems. To demonstrate the idea, we take as a case study a gravitationally self-interacting Bose gas and consider its heat capacity. We find a clear-cut distinction between the predictions of a classical gravitational interaction and a quantum gravitational interaction in the heat capacity of the Bose gas.
Authors
- Karl J. Friston
Institutions
- University of Vienna (AT)
- Austrian Academy of Sciences (AT)
- Royal Holloway University of London (GB)
- Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Innsbruck (AT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Research
- Published
- 2025-09-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/jdgg-hmcq
- Primary Topic
- Quantum Mechanics and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00