09 December 2024 3 1K Report

If the concept of superposition can ever challenge our understanding of space-time in general relativity..

I.e. it does so by introducing scenarios where objects can exist in multiple states simultaneously, having indefinite positions and being in a mixed state

which conflicts with the classical view of spacetime, which is deterministic and absolute.

I.e. if massive bodies are in superposition, it raises questions about the validity of Equivalence Principle as their gravitational effects could vary depending on their states[1].

On an am even more subtle level, superposition suggests that spacetime itself may also be in a state of superposition, meaning it is not the clear cut thing we expect but an emeregent effect of more fundamental ontologically same or not entities,

thus complicating the relationship between quantum mechanics and gravity[2], indicating that our classical notions of spacetime may be emergent rather than fundamental, necessitating a reevaluation of how we understand gravity and quantum phenomena. This idea captured scientists in early 2000s (Smolin, Markopoullou) while some like Rivelli continue to enertain it.

Citations:

[1] Quantum superposition of spacetimes obeys Einstein's Equivalence ... https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.01405

[2] Marios Christodoulou: Spacetime in Superposition, in the Laboratory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MGU6o6pIgo

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