Measurement Analysis and Quantum Gravity

Details Measurement Analysis and Quantum Gravity Measurement Analysis and Quantum Gravity

2008-02-14

arxiv.org/abs/0802.1978v2

Phys.Rev.D78:064051,2008

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

31 pages, many conceptual clarifications included, new appendix added, to appear in Phys. Rev. D

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevD.78.064051

We consider the question of whether consistency arguments based on measurement theory show that the gravitational field must be quantized. Motivated by the argument of Eppley and Hannah, we apply a DeWitt-type measurement analysis to a coupled system that consists of a gravitational wave interacting with a mass cube. We also review the arguments of Eppley and Hannah and of DeWitt, and investigate a second model in which a gravitational wave interacts with a quantized scalar field. We argue that one cannot conclude from the existing gedanken experiments that gravity has to be quantized. Despite the many physical arguments which speak in favor of a quantum theory of gravity, it appears that the justification for such a theory must be based on empirical tests and does not follow from logical arguments alone.

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