On the Thermodynamic Origin of Gravitational Force by Applying Spacetime Entanglement Entropy and the Unruh Effect

Entropy (Basel). 2019 Mar 19;21(3):296. doi: 10.3390/e21030296.

Abstract

We consider the thermodynamic origin of the gravitational force of matter by applying the spacetime entanglement entropy and the Unruh effect originating from vacuum quantum fluctuations. By analyzing both the local thermal equilibrium and quasi-static processes of a system, we may get both the magnitude and direction of Newton's gravitational force in our theoretical model. Our work shows the possibility that the elusive Unruh effect has already shown its manifestation through gravitational force.

Keywords: Unruh effect; gravitational force; holographic principle; spacetime entanglement entropy; thermodynamics.