Universal quantum modifications to general relativistic time dilation in delocalised clocks

Open access
Date
2020-08-14Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 11 times in
Web of Science
Cited 12 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
The theory of relativity associates a proper time with each moving object via its world line. In quantum theory however, such well-defined trajectories are forbidden. After introducing a general characterisation of quantum clocks, we demonstrate that, in the weak-field, low-velocity limit, all ``good'' quantum clocks experience time dilation as dictated by general relativity when their state of motion is classical (i.e. Gaussian). For nonclassical states of motion, on the other hand, we find that quantum interference effects may give rise to a significant discrepancy between the proper time and the time measured by the clock. The universality of this discrepancy implies that it is not simply a systematic error, but rather a quantum modification to the proper time itself. We also show how the clock's delocalisation leads to a larger uncertainty in the time it measures – a consequence of the unavoidable entanglement between the clock time and its center-of-mass degrees of freedom. We demonstrate how this lost precision can be recovered by performing a measurement of the clock's state of motion alongside its time reading. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000438559Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
QuantumVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Verein zur Förderung des Open Access Publizierens in den QuantenwissenschaftenOrganisational unit
03781 - Renner, Renato / Renner, Renato
Funding
179914 - The resource of time in quantum information theory (SNF)
Related publications and datasets
Is new version of: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/391633
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 11 times in
Web of Science
Cited 12 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics