PIRSA:23020030

Video URL

https://pirsa.org/23020030

Horizons are Watching You

Satishchandran, G. (2023). Horizons are Watching You. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. https://pirsa.org/23020030

Satishchandran, Gautam. Horizons are Watching You. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Feb. 02, 2023, https://pirsa.org/23020030 

          @misc{ scivideos_PIRSA:23020030,
            doi = {10.48660/23020030},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/23020030},
            author = {Satishchandran, Gautam},
            keywords = {Quantum Gravity},
            language = {en},
            title = {Horizons are Watching You},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics},
            year = {2023},
            month = {feb},
            note = {PIRSA:23020030 see, \url{https://scivideos.org/pirsa/23020030}}
          }

Gautam Satishchandran Princeton University

Talk numberPIRSA:23020030
DOI10.48660/23020030
Source RepositoryPIRSA
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

We show that if a massive (or charged) body is put in a quantum superposition of spatially separated states in the vicinity of any (Killing) the mere presence of the horizon will eventually destroy the coherence of the superposition. This occurs because, in effect, the long-range fields sourced by the superposition registers on the horizon which forces the radiation of entangling soft gravitons/photons through the horizon. This allows the horizon to harvest “which path” information about the superposition. The electromagnetic decoherence arises only when the superposed particle carries electric charge. However, since all matter sources gravity, the quantum gravitational decoherence applies to all superpositions. We provide estimates of the decoherence time for such quantum superpositions. Additionally, we show that this decoherence is distinct from--and larger than--the decoherence resulting from the presence of thermal radiation from the horizon (i.e. Hawking/Bunch-Davies/Unruh radiation). We believe that the fact that Killing horizons will eventually decohere any quantum superposition may be of fundamental significance for our understanding of the nature of black holes and horizons in quantum gravity. (Based on arXiv:2205.06279 and arXiv: 2301.00026).

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/95263116767?pwd=amZ6SkROV1lxckVpdzhNbFhYc1ZiQT09