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Towards a consistent Semiclassical Theory of Gravity

Pipa, Francisco (2025) Towards a consistent Semiclassical Theory of Gravity. [Preprint]

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Abstract

We argue that semiclassical gravity can be rendered consistent by assuming that quantum systems only emit a gravitational field when they interact with stable determination chains (SDCs), which are specific chains of interactions modeled via decoherence and test functions obeying a set of conditions. When systems are disconnected from SDCs, they do not emit a gravitational field. This denies the universality of gravity, while upholding a version of the equivalence principle. We argue that this theory can be tested by experiments that investigate the gravitational field emitted by isolated systems like in gravcats experiments or by investigating the gravitational interactions between entangled systems like in the (Bose-Marletto-Vedral) BMV experiment. Our theory fits into a new framework which holds that in the absence of certain conditions, quantum systems cannot emit a gravitational field. There are many possible conditions for systems to emit a gravitational field, and we will adopt a subset of them. We will show how this subset of conditions provides multiple benefits beyond rendering semiclassical gravity consistent, which includes deriving the value of the cosmological constant from first principles and providing an explanation for why the vacuum does not gravitate.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Pipa, Franciscof.saferreiraloureiropipa@uq.edu.au
Keywords: Quantum Field Theory, General Relativity, Effective Field Theories, Measurement Problem, Semiclassical Gravity, Quantum Gravity
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User: Francisco Pipa
Date Deposited: 08 Jul 2025 13:44
Last Modified: 08 Jul 2025 13:44
Item ID: 25907
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Field Theory
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date: 2025
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25907

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