Gravitational time dilation in extended quantum systems: The case of light clocks in Schwarzschild spacetime

Autor(en)

Tupac Bravo, Dennis Rätzel, Ivette Fuentes

Abstrakt

The precision of optical atomic clocks is approaching a regime where they resolve gravitational time dilation on smaller scales than their own extensions. Hence, an accurate description of quantum clocks has to take their spatial extension into account. In this article, as a first step toward a fully relativistic description of extended quantum clocks, we investigate a quantized version of Einstein's light clock fixed at a constant distance from a large massive object like the Earth. The model consists of a quantum light field in a one-dimensional cavity in Schwarzschild spacetime, where the distance between the mirrors is fixed by a rigid rod. By comparing a vertical and a horizontal clock, we propose an operational way to define the clock time when the clock resolves gravitational time dilation on scales smaller than its extension. In particular, we show that the time measured by the vertical light clock is equivalent to the proper time defined at its center. We also derive fundamental bounds on the precision of these clocks for measurements of proper time and the Schwarzschild radius.

Organisation(en)

Quantenoptik, Quantennanophysik und Quanteninformation

Externe Organisation(en)

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Jacobs Universität Bremen, University of Southampton

Journal

AVS Quantum Science

Band

5

Anzahl der Seiten

9

ISSN

2639-0213

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1116/5.0123228

Publikationsdatum

03-2023

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103028 Relativitätstheorie, 103026 Quantenoptik, 103025 Quantenmechanik

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Computer Networks and Communications, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Computational Theory and Mathematics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/74c28117-1fe7-48e2-918f-e03cbd7eb220