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Inertial and gravitational mass in quantum mechanics

  • E. Kajari
  • , N. L. Harshman
  • , E. M. Rasel
  • , S. Stenholm
  • , G. Süßmann
  • , W. P. Schleich*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Abstract

We show that in complete agreement with classical mechanics, the dynamics of any quantum mechanical wave packet in a linear gravitational potential involves the gravitational and the inertial mass only as their ratio. In contrast, the spatial modulation of the corresponding energy wave function is determined by the third root of the product of the two masses. Moreover, the discrete energy spectrum of a particle constrained in its motion by a linear gravitational potential and an infinitely steep wall depends on the inertial as well as the gravitational mass with different fractional powers. This feature might open a new avenue in quantum tests of the universality of free fall.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-60
Number of pages18
JournalApplied Physics B: Lasers and Optics
Volume100
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Jun 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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