Observation of a gravitational Aharonov-Bohm effect

Science. 2022 Jan 14;375(6577):226-229. doi: 10.1126/science.abl7152. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

Abstract

Gravity curves space and time. This can lead to proper time differences between freely falling, nonlocal trajectories. A spatial superposition of a massive particle is predicted to be sensitive to this effect. We measure the gravitational phase shift induced in a matter-wave interferometer by a kilogram-scale source mass close to one of the wave packets. Deflections of each interferometer arm due to the source mass are independently measured. The phase shift deviates from the deflection-induced phase contribution, as predicted by quantum mechanics. In addition, the observed scaling of the phase shift is consistent with Heisenberg’s error-disturbance relation. These results show that gravity creates Aharonov-Bohm phase shifts analogous to those produced by electromagnetic interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't