Experts have discovered the connections between quantum mechanics and relativity, according to the latest reports. Here are the details about this mind-blowing discovery.
Quantum mechanics and relativity
A group of Chinese scientists has presented the first experimental evidence that suggests the existence of gravitons, which are theoretical particles that are believed to mediate the force of gravity.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on this discovery, which is a major development in bridging the gap between quantum mechanics and general relativity.
These two branches of modern physics have remained largely incompatible, and this finding is a significant step towards reconciling them.
A group of scientists from Nanjing University, the United States, and Germany conducted research involving the placement of a thin semiconductor layer under extreme conditions.
To excite the semiconductor’s electrons to move in unison, the team cooled it to temperatures near absolute zero and applied a magnetic field 100,000 times stronger than the Earth’s.
As a result of this collective motion, the electrons spun in a consistent manner with predictions about gravitons, even though the particle’s direct existence was not confirmed.
“Our work has shown the first experimental substantiation of gravitons in condensed matter since the elusive particle was conceptualized in the 1930s,” Du Lingjie, the study’s lead author from Nanjing University, told state news agency Xinhua, as reported by SCMP.
The experiment published in the journal Nature has opened up new possibilities for the search for gravitons in laboratory settings.
The graviton is a hypothetical particle that is believed to be massless, travel at the speed of light and embody the force of gravity.
Despite its theoretical existence, scientists have not been able to directly observe it until now, following recent research.
The study is based on an excitation phenomenon discovered in 2019 when Du was a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University.
This phenomenon has prompted theoretical physicists to speculate about the potential detection of gravitons.
The Quantum Insider reveals the following:
“Confirming the existence of gravitons would not only validate a long-standing hypothesis but also offer new insights into the fundamental forces that govern our universe. The study represents a bridge between the macroscopic realm of general relativity and the microscopic world of quantum mechanics, and that could unravel many mysteries of modern physics that could lead to other advances.”
Check out the original study published in Nature in order to learn more details about this.