Quantum gravity question

In summary: However, general relativity cannot handle non-locality, which was the reason why Einstein created it. One way to solve this is by not coupling energy to gravity, but only the average value, which behaves more like a classical field. However, this creates a new problem as the measurement postulate is non-local and general relativity cannot deal with it. Therefore, this leads to the concept of SemiClassical gravity, where quantum matter is coupled to classical gravity.
  • #1
bluecap
396
13
What is the second paragraph referring to in quantum gravity? specific name for it (like asymptotic gravity, etc.)..

http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html

"Just combining quantum field theory with general relativity doesn’t work because, as confirmed by countless experiments, all the particles we know have quantum properties. This means (among many other things) they are subject to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and can be in quantum superpositions. But they also carry energy and hence should create a gravitational field. In general relativity, however, the gravitational field can’t be in a quantum superposition, so it can’t be directly attached to the particles, as it should be.

One can try to find a solution to this conundrum, for example by not directly coupling the energy (and related quantities like mass, pressure, momentum flux and so on) to gravity, but instead only coupling the average value, which behaves more like a classical field. This solves one problem, but creates a new one. The average value of a quantum state must be updated upon measurement. This measurement postulate is a non-local prescription and general relativity can’t deal with it – after all Einstein invented general relativity to get rid of the non-locality of Newtonian gravity. (Neither decoherence nor many worlds remove the problem, you still have to update the probabilities, somehow, somewhere.)"
 
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  • #2
SemiClassical gravity, which is not a way of quantizing gravity!
It means coupling quantum matter to classical gravity as explained by Sabine.
 
  • #3
bluecap said:
In general relativity, however, the gravitational field can’t be in a quantum superposition"

There are superpositions in quantum gravity.
 

1. What is quantum gravity?

Quantum gravity is a field of theoretical physics that aims to unify the theories of general relativity and quantum mechanics. It seeks to explain how gravity works at the smallest scales, where the laws of quantum mechanics dominate.

2. Why is quantum gravity important?

Quantum gravity is important because it would provide a more complete understanding of the fundamental forces of nature. It would also help us better understand the behavior of matter and energy at the smallest scales, which could have implications for technologies such as quantum computing.

3. How is quantum gravity different from general relativity?

General relativity is a classical theory that describes the force of gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects. Quantum gravity, on the other hand, seeks to explain gravity at the quantum level and would involve the exchange of particles called gravitons.

4. What is the current state of research on quantum gravity?

Quantum gravity is an active area of research, but it is still a largely theoretical field. Many different approaches have been proposed, such as string theory, loop quantum gravity, and causal dynamical triangulation. However, there is currently no experimental evidence to support any particular theory.

5. How do scientists hope to test or prove the existence of quantum gravity?

Testing or proving the existence of quantum gravity is a major challenge for scientists. One potential way to test it is through experiments that could detect the effects of gravitons, which are predicted by some theories of quantum gravity. Another approach is to look for observational evidence of phenomena that would only occur at extremely high energies, such as the Big Bang. Ultimately, a comprehensive theory of quantum gravity will likely require a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches.

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