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Matter waves in a gravitational field: An index of refraction for massive particles in general relativity

J. C. Evans·P. M. Alsing·S. Giorgetti·K. K. Nandi
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Abstract

We consider the propagation of massive-particle de Broglie waves in a static, isotropic metric in general relativity. We demonstrate the existence of an index of refraction that governs the waves and that has all the properties of a classical index of refraction. We confirm our interpretation with a WKB solution of the general-relativistic Klein-Gordon equation. Finally, we make some observations on the significance of the optical action.

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J. C. Evans, P. M. Alsing, S. Giorgetti, K. K. Nandi. 2001-07-18. Matter waves in a gravitational field: An index of refraction for massive particles in general relativity. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1389281

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