Equivalence Principle in Classical and Quantum Gravity

The equivalence principle in classical mechanics and quantum mechanics ∗

We discuss our understanding of the equivalence principle in both classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. We show that not only does the equivalence principle hold for the trajectories of quantum particles in a background gravitational field, but also that it is only because of this that the equivalence principle is even to be expected to hold for classical particles at all. While the equiva...

Gravity, Equivalence Principle and Clocks

String theory suggests the existence of gravitational-strength scalar fields (“dilaton” and “moduli”) whose couplings to matter violate the equivalence principle. This provides a new motivation for highprecision clock experiments, as well as a generic theoretical framework for analyzing their significance.

Classical and Quantum Gravity

Quantum Equivalence Principle

A simple mapping procedure is presented by which classical orbits and path integrals for the motion of a point particle in flat space can be transformed directly into those in curved space with torsion. Our procedure evolved from well-established methods in the theory of plastic deformations, where crystals with defects are described mathematically as images of ideal crystals under active nonho...

The equivalence principle in Kaluza-Klein gravity

In four-dimensional general relativity the spacetime outside of an isolated spherical star is described by an unique line element, which is the Schwarzschild metric. However, theories that envision our world as embedded in a larger universe, with more than four dimensions, lead to a number of possible non-Schwarzschild exteriors. In five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein gravity the condition that in th...