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Tejinder P. Singh

Publications and source records attributed to Tejinder P. Singh.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2014

A possible correspondence between Ricci identities and Dirac equations in the Newman-Penrose formalism: towards an understanding of gravity induced collapse of the wave-function?

It is well-known that in the Newman-Penrose formalism the Riemann tensor can be expressed as a set of eighteen complex first-order equations, in terms of the twelve spin coefficients, known as Ricci identities. The Ricci tensor herein is determined via the Einstein equations. It is also known that the Dirac equation in a curved spacetime can be written in the Newman-Penrose formalism as a set of four first-order coupled equations for the spinor components of the wave-function. In the present article we suggest that it might be possible to think of the Dirac equations in the N-P formalism as a special case of the Ricci identities, after an appropriate identification of the four Dirac spinor components with four of the spin coefficients, provided torsion is included in the connection, and after a suitable generalization of the energy-momentum tensor. We briefly comment on similarities with the Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble theory. The motivation for this study is to take some very preliminary steps towards developing a rigorous description of the hypothesis that dynamical collapse of the wave-function during a quantum measurement is caused by gravity.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2014

A proposal for the experimental detection of CSL induced random walk

Continuous Spontaneous Localization (CSL) is one possible explanation for dynamically induced collapse of the wave-function during a quantum measurement. The collapse is mediated by a stochastic non-linear modification of the Schrodinger equation. A consequence of the CSL mechanism is an extremely tiny violation of energy-momentum conservation, which can, in principle, be detected in the laboratory via the random diffusion of a particle induced by the stochastic collapse mechanism. In a paper in 2003, Collett and Pearle investigated the translational CSL diffusion of a sphere, and the rotational CSL diffusion of a disc, and showed that this effect dominates over the ambient environmental noise at low temperatures and extremely low pressures (about ten-thousandth of a pico-Torr). In the present paper, we revisit their analysis and argue that this stringent condition on pressure can be relaxed, and that the CSL effect can be seen at the pressure of about a pico-Torr. A similar analysis is provided for diffusion produced by gravity-induced decoherence, where the effect is typically much weaker than CSL. We also discuss the CSL induced random displacement of a quantum oscillator. Lastly, we propose possible experimental set-ups justifying that CSL diffusion is indeed measurable with the current technology.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Thermodynamics and Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi void models

It has been argued in the literature that in order to make a matter dominated Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker universe compatible with the generalized second law of thermodynamics, one must invoke dark energy, or modified gravity. In the present article we investigate if in a similar spirit, inhomogeneous cosmological models can be motivated on thermodynamic grounds. We examine a particular minimal void Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi inhomogeneous model which agrees well with observations. While on the one hand we find that the entropy associated with the apparent horizon is not well-behaved thermodynamically, on the other hand the canonical Weyl curvature entropy shows satisfactory thermodynamic behavior. We suggest that evolution of canonical Weyl curvature entropy might be a useful way to evaluate the thermodynamic viability of inhomogeneous cosmologies.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2014

How the quantum emerges from gravity

The dynamics of a massive, relativistic spinning particle could be described either by the Dirac equation or by the Kerr solution of Einstein equations. However, one does not know a priori as to which of the two systems of equations should be used in a given situation, and the choice is dictated by experiments. It is expected that the Dirac equation holds for microscopic masses, and the Kerr solution for macroscopic masses. This suggests that Einstein gravity and the Dirac theory are limiting cases of a common underlying theoretical framework. Here we propose that such a framework is provided by a geometric theory of gravity on a Riemann-Cartan spacetime, which includes torsion. The Dirac equation emerges as the torsion dominated, gravity-free limit of this framework.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2013

Fourth Order Gravity, Scalar-Tensor-Vector Gravity, and Galaxy Rotation Curves

The Lambda-CDM model is the best fit to cosmological data, and to the observed galactic rotation curves. However, in the absence of a direct detection of dark matter one should explore theories such as MOND, and perhaps also modified gravity theories like fourth order gravity and Scalar-Tensor-Vector Gravity [STVG] as possible explanations for the non-Keplerian behaviour of galaxy rotation curves. STVG has a modified law for gravitational acceleration which attempts to fit data by fixing two free parameters. We show that, remarkably, the biharmonic equation which we get in the weak field limit of the field equations in a fourth order gravity theory implies a modification of Newtonian acceleration which is precisely of the same repulsive Yukawa form as in the STVG theory, and the corrections could in principle be large enough to try and explain the observed rotation curves. We also explain how our model provides a first principles understanding of MOND. We also show that STVG and fourth order gravity predict an acceleration parameter $a_0$ whose value is of the same order as in MOND.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2013

Information and the foundations of quantum theory

We believe that the hypothesis `it from bit' originates from the assumption that probabilities have a fundamental, irremovable status in quantum theory. We argue against this assumption and highlight four well-known reformulations / modifications of the theory in which probabilities and the measuring apparatus do not play a fundamental role. These are: Bohmian Mechanics, Dynamical Collapse Models, Trace Dynamics, and Quantum Theory without Classical Time. Here the `it' is primary and the `bit' is derived from the `it'.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2013

Redshift-drift as a test for discriminating between decelerating inhomogeneous and accelerating universe models

Exact inhomogeneous solutions of Einstein's equations have been used in the literature to build models reproducing the cosmological data without dark energy. However, owing to the degrees of freedom pertaining to these models, it is necessary to get rid of the degeneracy often exhibited by the problem of distinguishing between them and accelerating universe models. We give an overview of redshift drift in inhomogeneous cosmologies, and explain how it serves to this purpose. One class of models which fits the data is the Szekeres Swiss-cheese class where non-spherically symmetric voids exhibit a typical size of about 400 Mpc. We present our calculation of the redshift drift in this model, and compare it with the results obtained by other authors for alternate scenarios.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

Models of Wave-function Collapse, Underlying Theories, and Experimental Tests

Quantum mechanics is an extremely successful theory that agrees with every experiment. However, the principle of linear superposition, a central tenet of the theory, apparently contradicts a commonplace observation: macroscopic objects are never found in a linear superposition of position states. Moreover, the theory does not really explain as to why during a quantum measurement, deterministic evolution is replaced by probabilistic evolution, whose random outcomes obey the Born probability rule. In this article we review an experimentally falsifiable phenomenological proposal, known as Continuous Spontaneous Collapse: a stochastic non-linear modification of the Schrödinger equation, which resolves these problems, while giving the same experimental results as quantum theory in the microscopic regime. Two underlying theories for this phenomenology are reviewed: Trace Dynamics, and gravity induced collapse. As one approaches the macroscopic scale, the predictions of this proposal begin to differ appreciably from those of quantum theory, and are being confronted by ongoing laboratory experiments that include molecular interferometry and optomechanics. These experiments, which essentially test the validity of linear superposition for large systems, are reviewed here, and their technical challenges, current results, and future prospects summarized. We conclude that it is likely that over the next two decades or so, these experiments can verify or rule out the proposed stochastic modification of quantum theory.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2012

Fully Characterizing Axially Symmetric Szekeres Models With Three Data Sets

Inhomogeneous exact solutions of General Relativity with zero cosmological constant have been used in the literature to challenge the ΛCDM model. From one patch Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) models to axially symmetric quasi-spherical Szekeres (QSS) Swiss-cheese models, some of them are able to reproduce to a good accuracy the cosmological data. It has been shown in the literature that a zero-Λ-LTB model with a central observer can be fully determined by two data sets. We demonstrate that an axially symmetric zero-Λ-QSS model with an observer located at the origin can be fully reconstructed from three data sets, number counts, luminosity distance and redshift drift. This is a first step towards a future demonstration involving five data sets and the most general Szekeres model.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Is quantum linear superposition an exact principle of nature?

The principle of linear superposition is a hallmark of quantum theory. It has been confirmed experimentally for photons, electrons, neutrons, atoms, for molecules having masses up to ten thousand amu, and also in collective states such as SQUIDs and Bose-Einstein condensates. However, the principle does not seem to hold for positions of large objects! Why for instance, a table is never found to be in two places at the same time? One possible explanation for the absence of macroscopic superpositions is that quantum theory is an approximation to a stochastic nonlinear theory. This hypothesis may have its fundamental origins in gravitational physics, and is being put to test by modern ongoing experiments on matter wave interferometry.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2012

The problem of time and the problem of quantum measurement

Quantum theory depends on an external classical time, and there ought to exist an equivalent reformulation of the theory which does not depend on such a time. The demand for the existence of such a reformulation suggests that quantum theory is an approximation to a stochastic non-linear theory. The stochastic non-linearity provides a dynamical explanation for the collapse of the wave-function during a quantum measurement. Hence the problem of time and the measurement problem are related to each other: the search for a solution for the former problem naturally implies a solution for the latter problem.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2012

Redshift drift in axially symmetric quasi-spherical Szekeres models

Models of inhomogeneous universes constructed with exact solutions of Einstein's General Relativity have been proposed in the literature with the aim of reproducing the cosmological data without any need for a dark energy component. Besides large scale inhomogeneity models spherically symmetric around the observer, Swiss-cheese models have also been studied. Among them, Swiss-cheeses where the inhomogeneous patches are modeled by different particular Szekeres solutions have been used for reproducing the apparent dimming of the type Ia supernovae (SNIa). However, the problem of fitting such models to the SNIa data is completely degenerate and we need other constraints to fully characterize them. One of the tests which is known to be able to discriminate between different cosmological models is the redshift-drift. This drift has already been calculated by different authors for Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) models. We compute it here for one particular axially symmetric quasi-spherical Szekeres (QSS) Swiss-cheese which has previously been shown to reproduce to a good accuracy the SNIa data, and we compare the results to the drift in the $Λ$CDM model and in some LTB models that can be found in the literature. We show that it is a good discriminator between them. Then, we discuss our model's remaining degrees of freedom and propose a recipe to fully constrain them.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

Modified gravity as a common cause for cosmic acceleration and flat galaxy rotation curves

Flat galaxy rotation curves and the accelerating Universe both imply the existence of a critical acceleration, which is of the same order of magnitude in both the cases, in spite of the galactic and cosmic length scales being vastly different. Yet, it is customary to explain galactic acceleration by invoking gravitationally bound dark matter, and cosmic acceleration by invoking a `repulsive` dark energy. Instead, might it not be the case that the flatness of rotation curves and the acceleration of the Universe have a common cause? In this essay we propose a modified theory of gravity. By applying the theory on galactic scales we demonstrate flat rotation curves without dark matter, and by applying it on cosmological scales we demonstrate cosmic acceleration without dark energy.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2012

Galaxy rotation curves from a fourth order gravity

While the standard and most popular explanation for the flatness of galaxy rotation curves is dark matter, one cannot at this stage rule out an explanation based on a modified law of gravitation, which agrees with Newtonian gravitation on the scale of the solar system, but differs from it on larger length scales. Examples include Modfied Newtonian Dynamics [MOND] and Scalar-Tensor-Vector Gravity [STVG]. Here we report on a fourth order modification of the Poisson equation which yields the same Yukawa type modification of Newtonian gravity as STVG, and which can explain flat galaxy rotation curves for a large sample of galaxies, once specific values for two parameters have been chosen. We speculate on two possible origins for this modified Poisson equation: first, a possible fourth order modification of general relativity, and second, quadrupole gravitational polarization induced on a galaxy because of the pull of neighbouring galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2012

Statistical thermodynamics for a non-commutative special relativity: Emergence of a generalized quantum dynamics

There ought to exist a description of quantum field theory which does not depend on an external classical time. To achieve this goal, in a recent paper we have proposed a non-commutative special relativity in which space-time and matter degrees of freedom are treated as classical matrices with arbitrary commutation relations, and a space-time line element is defined using a trace. In the present paper, following the theory of Trace Dynamics, we construct a statistical thermodynamics for the non-commutative special relativity, and show that one arrives at a generalized quantum dynamics in which space and time are non-classical and have an operator status. In a future work, we will show how standard quantum theory on a classical space-time background is recovered from here.

gr-qc↗
arXiv1993

Quantum Gravity and Non-unitarity in Black Hole Evaporation

We discuss the relevance of quantum gravitational corrections to the functional Schrödinger equation for the information loss paradox in black hole evaporation. These corrections are found from the Wheeler-DeWitt equation through a semiclassical expansion scheme. The dominant contribution in the final evaporation stage, when the black hole approaches the Planck regime, is a term which explicitly violates unitarity in the non-gravitational sector. While pure states remain pure, there is an increase in the degree of purity for non-pure states in this sector. This result holds irrespective of whether full quantum gravity respects unitarity or not.

gr-qc↗