Tag

Equivalence Principle

All articles tagged with #equivalence principle

science25 days ago•41 min saved

Superfluid Helium Beam Enables First Direct Gravity Test of Second-Generation Particles

Researchers at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have created a narrow, high-intensity beam of muonium atoms using superfluid helium, overcoming a major technical barrier to testing Einstein’s weak equivalence principle for second-generation particles. The beam, produced by ejecting muonium from helium cooled to 0.2 kelvin, moves at approximately 2.1 km/s with a tight velocity distribution. While no gravitational measurement has been made yet, the setup aims to achieve 1% precision in muonium’s gravitational acceleration within 100 days of future data collection.

via The Brighter Side of News|

#equivalence-principle #eth-zurich #muonium

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Quantum Galileo Interferometer Probes Gravity in a Superposed Atom

A team led by Ron Folman built the Quantum Galileo Interferometer (QGI) to place a single atom in a superposition of two trajectories—one undergoing free fall and the other held stationary—and then recombine them to measure gravity’s effect on a quantum wave. The observed phase aligns with the equivalence principle within about 2.5%, demonstrating gravity can act on a quantum system in superposition and outlining future tests with heavier objects (like nanodiamonds) to probe whether gravity is truly quantum or induces wavefunction collapse.

via Ars Technica|

#bose-einstein-condensate #equivalence-principle #gravity

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Gravity in the quantum realm: atom interferometry tests Einstein's equivalence principle

An international team used the Quantum Galileo Interferometer to split ultracold rubidium atoms, letting one part fall while the other stayed stationary, then recombined them to detect a minute gravity-induced quantum phase. The measured phase agrees with Einstein's equivalence principle extended to quantum objects, providing a direct laboratory link between gravity and quantum mechanics—without claiming a full quantum theory of gravity—and pointing toward future tests with heavier objects.

via ScienceDaily|

#atom-interferometry #equivalence-principle #gravity

science1 month ago•136 min saved

Gravity Goes Quantum: First Quantum-Scale Test Nudges Toward Unifying Physics

Scientists used the Quantum Galileo Interferometer to split a cloud of rubidium atoms into two paths—one falling under gravity and the other held in place—then recombined the waves to measure gravity’s effect on a quantum phase. The observed interference shows Einstein’s equivalence principle holds at the quantum scale and represents the first quantum‑scale hint of how gravity and quantum mechanics might be unified, though it is not a full quantum gravity demonstration; the work appeared in Science Advances.

via Space|

#atom-interferometry #equivalence-principle #general-relativity

science1 month ago•7 min saved

Quantum Breakthrough, Frog Sex Reversals, Invasive Pines, and a Puma-Cheetah Kin

Researchers demonstrate that the quantum version of the equivalence principle holds using a Quantum Galileo Interferometer, suggesting quantum mechanics and gravity can coherently coexist; studies on agile frogs show sex reversal does not stop mating but their offspring may be more vulnerable to viral diseases; pine trees planted in the Southern Hemisphere grow much faster and resist drought, yet threaten native ecosystems; genetic analysis reveals the extinct American ‘cheetah’ Miracinonyx trumani is actually a sister species to pumas, with surprising range and diet diversity including Arctic fish-eaters.

via 404 Media|

#equivalence-principle #frogs #invasive-pines

science1 month ago•144 min saved

Quantum Galileo interferometer confirms Einstein’s principle at quantum scales

Physicists used a Bose-Einstein condensate of about 20,000 rubidium atoms in a two-path atom interferometer to measure a gravity‑induced quantum phase. The observed phase grows with the cube of the fall time, matching theoretical predictions and showing Einstein’s equivalence principle holds at quantum scales. The experiment, dubbed the quantum Galileo interferometer, ran 633 cycles across several hours, supporting compatibility between quantum mechanics and general relativity while outlining future tests with rotating frames and heavier objects to probe gravity’s effect on quantum superpositions.

via Live Science|

#bose-einstein-condensate #equivalence-principle #gravity

physics3 years ago•3 min saved

Einstein's Relativity Theory Prevails: Gravitational Interactions Confirmed

Researchers have confirmed with unprecedented accuracy that the properties of mass, such as weight, inertia, and gravitation, are always equivalent, regardless of the specific composition of the mass. This finding reinforces the equivalence principle, a cornerstone of Einstein's theory of relativity, and addresses a critical point of divergence between classical and quantum physics. Using half a century of lunar laser ranging data, scientists have shown that passive and active gravitational mass are always equivalent, supporting the fundamental assumptions of physics and providing further evidence for Einstein's theory.

via SciTechDaily|

#equivalence-principle #general-relativity #lunar-laser-ranging

science3 years ago•3 min saved

Mass vs. Weight: Understanding the Difference.

Mass and weight are related but separate concepts in physics. Mass is an intrinsic property of an object, while weight is the force exerted on an object's matter by a gravitational field. The equivalence principle states that gravitational mass and inertial mass are equivalent. Buoyancy explains why floating objects still have weight, as they displace fluid and experience an upthrust equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. The weight of an object is spread out across the planet's atmosphere when it flies, making it difficult to measure.

via IFLScience|

#buoyancy #equivalence-principle #gravitational-field