Greetings !
Originally posted by Lurch
This is a very interesting question. I would have to say (and this is only my guess) that I think the presence of a detector, even a GW-based detector, would still alter the pattern on the detection plate at the end of the experiment. And my reasoning is this;
It is a predicted quality of gravity waves that they carry energy away from any phenomenon that generates them. At the quantum level, where wave/particle duality becomes significant, the difference between energy and matter gets hazy. So I think that any thing that carries a detectable amount of energy away from a particle must alter that particle.
Well, I suppose I could try to argue that a space-time
wave may be completely different in its effect, but
I won't. Besides, considering quantum limmitations on
sensitivity I suppose there wouldn't be a way for us
as observers (if not the experimental particle) to
escape the HUP during the entire experimental process.
HOWEVER, there is something else I believe I can see here.
GR is not a quantum theory, it is a theory of geometry
(that Einstein preffered and liked) hence, theoreticly,
we may not even need any machine creating waves in space-time
through very intense gravitational interactions. Basicly, we
could just put something there and see if it gets attracted.
Now, if I'm not mistaken, the HUP should have no effect here
because it's not even a quantized interaction - rather a
"continuos" geometry change the scale of the observation of
which we can then increase(not enough though
). For example, suppose that I send the same particle through two very long tunnel
like slits - the gravitational attraction should become
more apparent - wheather the WF will collapse or not and
if there will at all be some attraction.
In fact, the more I come to think of it as I write - let's
consider wheather this IS a technologicly possible experiment
TODAY:
We run the double slit experiment, the slits are turned
into long narrow (according to the wavelenght) tunnels
one above the other and the particles (say electrons) are
injected at very relativly low speeds. Now, we allow the
tunnel slits to be capable of detecting an electron impact.
Then we run the experiment for a great deal of them and
see wheather amongst the electrons that did not emerge
from the tunnels and were detected there, a greater, by some
degree, amount impacted the lower walls of the tunnels
slit and a lesser amount impacted the upper walls.
Thus we might just be able to see wheather the uncollapsed
WF "flows" in accordance with space-time or just the other
3 forces we've already quantized.
So, does the above make any sense ?
Further more, if I am nor mistaken this could even have
ramifications for the Equivalence Principle, since we know
that if the same occurred in a "normally" accelerating frame
the WF will feel the acceleration, right?
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
I agree with you Lurch. I think if there is an interaction with the particle - some exchange of virtual bosons - then the particle is "pinned down" in the sense that its location is established(up to uncertainty) as being at one slit rather than then other, and it can't any more exhibit waviness because localization like that is not consistent with a wave encountering both slits.
But, aren't you assigning quantum propeties and behaviour
to gravity ? If I'm not mistaken, it has so far refused
to work according to such models, or am I indeed mistaken ?
Well anyway, I'd really appreciate your responses and I'd
like to remind you, again, that I'm not claiming anything
or am specificly in favour of some option, I'm just trying
to examine them in general and make some general sense of
the question, and the rest is a matter for you the experts to
decide upon. (Though if it's possible, I'd appreciate you telling
me at which stage I should either start copyrighting or go do something more useful like water some plants or somethin'... )
Live long and prosper.
)
