1. Introduction
The unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity remains one of the most profound challenges in theoretical physics, with far-reaching implications for understanding quantum behavior in curved spacetime [
1,
2]. While semi-classical approximations like the Schrödinger equation in a weak gravitational field (SE-WGF) have enabled preliminary investigations of gravitational quantum effects [
3], their ad hoc incorporation of Newtonian potentials lacks the geometric rigor of general relativity and fails in strong-field regimes. Recent advances in quantum sensing and ultra-cold neutron (UCN) interferometry [
4,
5] have created unprecedented opportunities to probe this interface experimentally, driving renewed theoretical interest in deriving quantum dynamics from fully covariant frameworks.
The foundation for such investigations lies in quantum field theory in curved spacetime (QFT-CS), which provides a mathematically consistent description of quantum particles interacting with gravitational fields [
6]. Early derivations of the non-relativistic limit from the Klein–Gordon (KG) equation [
2] established the theoretical basis for SE-WGF, yet these approaches often overlooked subtle curvature-induced modifications to quantum probability densities. Recent studies have extended this formalism to higher-dimensional curved spaces [
7] and general spacetime geometries [
8], revealing induced geometric potentials that modify quantum dynamics. Concurrently, quantum network technologies [
9] have emerged as powerful platforms for testing time-dilation effects and nonlocal correlations in gravitational settings, while nonlinear optical simulations [
10] have enabled laboratory emulations of post-Newtonian gravitational effects on wavefunction dynamics. Despite these advances, the physical interpretation of amplitude modulation in curved-spacetime wavefunctions—particularly its role in spatial probability distributions—remains underdeveloped, creating a gap between theoretical predictions and observable phenomena.
This work bridges this gap by identifying
Gravitational Length Stretching (GLS) as a fundamental quantum-gravitational phenomenon arising from the amplitude modulation function
in WKB solutions of the KG equation. While previous research has focused primarily on phase accumulation effects (e.g., gravitational phase shifts and time-dilation decoherence, we demonstrate that
encodes a geometric distortion of quantum spatial profiles that is equally significant. Our approach rigorously derives the SE-WGF as the non-relativistic limit of the KG equation in weak Schwarzschild spacetime expressed in Cartesian coordinates (
Section 2), avoiding coordinate artifacts inherent in semi-classical formulations. Crucially, we establish that
satisfies the covariant continuity equation
[
11], coupling quantum probability conservation directly to spacetime geometry. This leads to GLS—a frame-independent stretching of quantum objects in regions of stronger curvature where
diminishes—manifested as a
increase in proper spatial extent over millimeter scales for UCNs in Earth’s gravity (
Section 3, 4).
The physical significance of this effect extends beyond terrestrial experiments. In strong-field regimes (e.g., neutron star surfaces where
), GLS dominates quantum dynamics, necessitating QFT-CS for accurate modeling. Our framework resolves ambiguities in semi-classical treatments, particularly the non-covariant quantization condition
in SE-WGF versus the geometrically consistent form
in QFT-CS (
Section 5). The latter ensures general covariance, enabling systematic extension to Kerr spacetimes (where frame-dragging modifies
[
12]) and cosmological settings [
13]. Furthermore, we show that position measurements in curved spacetime require Hilbert spaces normalized by
(
Section 3), implying that GLS represents an intrinsic quantum-geometric effect rather than a perturbative correction.
Quantitative predictions for UCN spectroscopy confirm GLS observability: energy level shifts (
at
) and probability density gradients (
) distinguish it decisively from semi-classical predictions. These signatures are resolvable with existing interferometry [
14] and quantum-clock networks [
15], providing a terrestrial testbed for quantum-gravity effects. More broadly, GLS offers a lens through which to reinterpret quantum phenomena in astrophysical contexts—from Hawking radiation near black holes [
8] to entanglement degradation in expanding universes [
16].
This paper is structured as follows:
Section 2 derives the SE-WGF from the KG equation in weak Schwarzschild spacetime, highlighting coordinate choices and approximations.
Section 3 establishes
as the physical amplitude modulator through QFT-CS mode solutions, introduces GLS theoretically and connects it to quantum measurement in curved spacetime.
Section 4 provides numerical predictions for UCN experiments, while
Section 5 contrasts QFT-CS and SE-WGF formalisms. Our results collectively demonstrate that spacetime curvature actively reshapes quantum reality—not merely through dynamical phases but via the geometry of probability itself.
Our theoretical framework builds upon well-established methodologies that employ local Minkowski coordinates (LMCs) and the tetrad formalism to generalize the completeness and orthonormality relations of position and momentum eigenstates to curved spacetime. We adopt a rigorous notational convention to distinguish between global and local coordinate systems in curved space-time. Greek indices (e.g., , ) are utilized to represent global coordinates, which are essential for describing the geometry of curved space-time in the framework of general relativity. Conversely, Latin indices (a, ) are employed to denote the four-dimensional LMCs, which provide a flat space-time approximation in the tangent space at each point of the manifold. Specifically, the indices a and b encompass both temporal and spatial components, with corresponding to the time coordinate and representing the spatial coordinates. For the three-dimensional spatial components of the LMCs, Latin indices (i, ) are used. The Minkowski metric is defined with the signature , consistent with the convention adopted throughout this work.
3. Theoretical Foundation of gravitational length stretching (GLS)
In a recent investigation [
11], we derived the solutions for free spin-0 (scalar) and spin-1/2 (fermionic) particles in WGF where the perturbations in the metric and the variations in
are negligible compared to the dominant energy scale of the particle. These solutions take the zeroth order WKB form [
18,
19,
20,
21]:
where
represents a spacetime-dependent amplitude modulation, and
satisfies the curved spacetime dispersion relation
. Crucially,
obeys the covariant form of continuity equation:
ensuring conservation of the probability current
. While the phase factor
encodes standard geodesic dynamics, the amplitude
contains novel information about gravitational modifications to quantum probability densities—a feature previously unexplored in QFT-CS.
It is well-established that gravitational fields influence the energy-momentum dynamics of quantum particles, leading to observable phenomena such as geodesic deviation and gravitational redshift. These effects are inherently encoded in the phase factor of the wave function, which governs the particle’s propagation in curved space-time. However, the physical implications of the amplitude function have not been thoroughly explored in the literature. In this work, we propose and investigate the hypothesis that represents the probability density distribution of a free particle in curved space-time. This hypothesis opens new avenues for understanding the interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity, particularly in WGF.
To enrich this discussion, we note that the function
can be interpreted as a modulation of the particle’s wave function due to the curvature of space-time. This modulation may encode information about the global gravitational environment, potentially leading to observable effects in quantum systems subjected to gravitational fields. For instance, variations in
could influence the spatial distribution of particles in quantum interference experiments conducted in non-inertial frames or near massive objects. Furthermore, the continuity equation (
9) suggests that
is intricately linked to the geometry of space-time through the covariant derivative
, highlighting the deep connection between quantum probability densities and the underlying space-time structure. By systematically analyzing the role of
in the context of curved space-time, this study aims to shed light on the quantum-gravitational interplay and its potential observational signatures. Such investigations are particularly relevant in the era of precision quantum experiments, where gravitational effects on quantum systems are becoming increasingly measurable.
In analogy to the formalism employed in Minkowski space-time, the position eigenstate in curved space-time is represented by the Hilbert space vector
, which describes a particle localized at position
x. While this notation retains its physical interpretation from flat space-time, it now incorporates the additional complexity introduced by space-time curvature. A crucial insight is that gravity not only affects the energy-momentum dynamics of particles but also distorts their probability density distribution in real space. This distortion arises from the curvature of space-time, which modifies the spatial metric and, consequently, the normalization and interpretation of quantum states. Using tetrads
to connect global coordinates to LMCs, the completeness relation becomes:
where
is the determinant of
which is the induced 3-spatial metric. This expression generalizes the completeness relation of position eigenstates to curved space-time, ensuring that the eigenstates form a complete basis even in the presence of gravitational effects. The inner product between two position eigenstates
and
is defined as
which ensures the orthonormality of the position eigenstates, and the inner product is manifestly a scalar quantity, invariant under spatial coordinate transformations.
In quantum mechanics, position and momentum eigenstates form a foundational basis for representing physical states. While the physical interpretation of position eigenstates remains locally analogous to their Minkowski space-time counterparts (defined via the Dirac delta normalization), the momentum eigenstates in curved space-time exhibit profound geometric distortions. These deviations arise from the interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity, where the curvature of space-time modifies both the dynamical phase and amplitude of wave functions.
In Minkowski space-time, momentum eigenstates are globally valid plane-wave solutions
with uniform probability density, reflecting the homogeneity and isotropy of flat geometry. In contrast, curved space-time introduces a spatially and temporally modulated momentum eigenstate of the form:
where
is a metric-dependent normalization factor,
is the amplitude function that encodes the spatial and temporal modulation of the wave function due to the gravitational field. The phase factor
generalizes the plane-wave phase through a path integral over the covariant four-momentum
. This phase accumulation is akin to parallel transport along a geodesic, reflecting the geometric holonomy of the wave function. In Minkowski space-time, the momentum eigenstate reduces to a plane wave
, which implies a uniform probability density distribution in a globally flat space-time. In contrast, the presence of the amplitude function
in curved space-time indicates that gravity not only influences the energy-momentum of particles but also distorts their probability density distribution in real space. The amplitude function
arises from the non-trivial spacetime metric
, which distorts the conserved probability current
[
11]. Consequently,
incorporates tidal gravitational effects, leading to a spatially varying probability density
—a marked departure from the Minkowski case.
The inner product between the two distorted momentum eigenstates
and
is expressed as
where
represents the spatial momentum components in the LMCs, and
is the corresponding energy. The exponential term
oscillates rapidly compared to the variation of
, as
. By applying the method of stationary phase, we argue that the integral is dominated by the oscillatory exponential, while the slowly varying function
can be treated as approximately constant over the oscillation scale. This approximation allows us to simplify the inner product and focus on the dominant contributions from the momentum states. It is crucial to emphasis that since LMCs in WGF form a continuum of coordinates defined at each space-time point, the value of the momentum
may vary depending on the LMC in which it is evaluated. Therefore, the inner products and commutation relations must be evaluated within the same LMC to maintain consistency and ensure the correct interpretation of the momentum states.
Notably, the normalization factor can be absorbed into the amplitude function , enabling us to omit in subsequent discussions and assume that the wave function is normalized. While calculating the exact form of is technically challenging due to the complexity of curved space-time dynamics, we note that only the ratio —representing the relative probability density between two space-time locations—is physically significant. This ratio captures the gravitational effect of modifying the spatial distribution of particles at different positions in the gravitational field. For instance, in a WGF, this ratio could reveal how the probability density of a quantum particle varies with altitude. This framework underscores the profound interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity, suggesting that gravitational fields not only alter the phase of quantum wave functions but also reshape their amplitude distributions. Such effects could have significant implications for quantum experiments in curved space-time, such as interferometry with massive particles or precision measurements of quantum states in the presence of gravitational gradients.
The completeness relation for the one-particle states in curved space-time is given by
which ensures that the distorted momentum eigenstates
form a complete basis for the Hilbert space of one-particle states, generalizing the flat space-time result to include the effects of curvature. The factor
arises from the relativistic normalization of the states, ensuring consistency with the field quantization in curved space-time, the subscript-0 indicates that this quantity is evaluated in the LMCs.
The quantized KG field in WGF can be expressed as:
where
and
are the creation and annihilation operators, respectively. These operators act on the vacuum state
to generate particle states. The state
represents a particle localized at position
at time
t. For a KG particle with momentum
measured in a LMC system, the state is given by
where
is the vacuum state. The creation and annihilation operators satisfy the canonical commutation relation:
which ensures the proper quantization of the field.
To demonstrate that the function
represents the probability density distribution of the wave
in real space
, we calculate the probability of finding the particle within a small volume
around the space point
:
Here, represents the proper volume around the space point , accounting for the spatial metric induced by the curvature of space-time. The probability is proportional to , indicating that the particle’s probability density is modulated by the gravitational field. Specifically, a larger value of corresponds to a higher probability density, implying that the particle is "compressed" in regions where is large, and "stretched" in regions where it is small. This result highlights the role of as a gravitational modulation factor that distorts the probability density distribution of the particle in real space.
A free KG particle can be represented by a wave packet constructed from a superposition of the distorted plane waves:
where
is the distorted plane wave solution for a single mode with momentum
given by Eq. (
12), and
is the weight function that determines the contribution of each mode to the wave packet. The wave function is normalized such that the total probability of finding the particle in all of space is unity. This normalization condition
remains valid through the orthonormality relation
. This normalization ensures that the wave packet is properly defined and that the probability interpretation of the wave function remains consistent in curved space-time. Now, suppose the particle is well-localized around a space point
. The probability of finding the particle within a small volume
centered at
is approximately given by:
Substituting the wave packet expression into the integral, we arrive at the following expression:
In this expression, the exponential term
describes the interference between different momentum modes. The functions
and
account for the gravitational modulation of the wave function at the position
. If the interference-induced effect on the wave packet size is negligible in the region where the measurement is performed, and the particle subsequently propagates to a different location
with a stronger gravitational field, the amplitude function
will generally be smaller than
. Consequently, the proper size of the particle, denoted by
, will typically satisfy the relation:
This increase stems from the interplay between the spatial metric and the reduced amplitude, leading to a broader probability density distribution in stronger gravitational fields. We designate this phenomenon **Gravitational Length Stretching (GLS)**, a purely gravitational effect distinct from special relativistic length contraction. Unlike the latter, which depends on relative velocity and reference frames, GLS is frame-independent because is a scalar function tied to the global geometry. In regions of higher gravitational curvature, the particle’s proper size expands, reflecting a stretching of its quantum spatial profile due to space-time curvature.
4. Example: UCNs in Weak-Field Schwarzschild Geometry
The interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity manifests uniquely in the phenomenon of GLS, a subtle yet significant effect that alters the spatial structure of quantum probability densities in curved spacetime. In particular, the presence of a gravitational field modifies the wavefunction characteristics of quantum systems, leading to shifts in energy spectra and deformation of probability distributions. This effect becomes crucial in precision experiments involving UCNs, low-energy quantum systems, and Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in Earth’s gravity.
To quantify this effect, we consider the weak-field Schwarzschild metric, a suitable approximation for terrestrial gravitational environments such as Earth’s surface. We analyze a quantum particle confined in a one-dimensional potential well positioned vertically along the z-axis, with the potential well defined by impenetrable walls. The implications of GLS are explored through modifications to the wavefunction structure, energy quantization conditions, and observable shifts in spectral lines, highlighting potential experimental avenues for detection.
For the quantum particle, such as a UCN, trapped in a vertical one-dimensional potential well of length
at a fixed radial coordinate
(Earth’s surface), the Schwarzschild metric in weak-field approximation provides an appropriate framework for analysis. The standing wave solution for the wavefunction expanded to the leading order WKB form is given by:
where
is conserved along the Schwarzschild geodesic, and
,
are constants determined by boundary conditions. The factor
is given by [
11]:
where the longitudinal wave number
is determined by the relativistic dispersion relation:
where
denotes the Schwarzschild radius of Earth. The factor
suggests that in stronger gravitational fields (smaller
), the amplitude of the wavefunction is suppressed due to increased
, thereby stretching the probability density.
Applying the boundary conditions
and
, the wavefunction assumes the form:
where
is a normalization constant, and the wave vector
satisfies the quantization condition:
Solving Eq. (
27) yields the energy spectrum (see appendix):
where
and
. The factor
encapsulates the gravitational correction, shifting
from its flat-space counterpart
. Neglecting the small correction terms with
, we arrive at:
The spacing between energy levels is then given by:
For a standing wave experiment on Earth’s surface, the significance of the
term increases with
L. With
, we estimate
, comparable to
. This leads to a deviation in the wave vector:
which contrasts with the flat-space value
. Consequently, the energy level spacing at
is:
compared to the Minkowski case, where
. This corresponds to a relative energy shift of
, confirming that Earth’s gravity introduces a small yet potentially measurable perturbation to the quantum well spectrum.
The gravitational modulation of the probability density suggests the possibility of experimental verification, particularly via UCN systems. The radial gradient of the probability density is given by
for the UCNs on the surface of earth with wavevector given by Eq. (
31), indicating a cumulative probability density variation of
over
. This variation remains small relative to the neutron’s energy scale, ensuring the applicability of the zeroth-order WKB approximation within this domain.
However, as , the gradient diverges, marking the breakdown of the zeroth-order WKB approximation. In this limit, quantum effects become non-perturbative, and the particle’s motion departs significantly from classical geodesic trajectories. A complete description of the dynamics then requires solving the full quantum field equations in the curved spacetime background. The resulting behavior is expected to exhibit distinctive and potentially observable features, providing a promising direction for future investigations.
7. Discussion and Conclusions
This work establishes that spacetime curvature fundamentally reshapes quantum probability distributions through
Gravitational Length Stretching (GLS)—a novel quantum-gravitational phenomenon derived from first principles in quantum field theory in curved spacetime (QFT-CS). By demonstrating that the amplitude modulation function
in curved-spacetime WKB solutions encodes geometric distortions of quantum spatial profiles (
Section 3), we resolve a longstanding ambiguity in semi-classical treatments and reveal new physics beyond phase accumulation effects. Our key findings and implications are:
1. GLS as Fundamental Quantum Geometry: The identification of as the probability density modulator () provides a unified interpretation of quantum states in curved spacetime. Crucially, satisfies the covariant continuity equation , coupling quantum probability conservation directly to spacetime geometry. This leads to GLS—frame-independent stretching of quantum objects in stronger curvature where diminishes (e.g., increases by ∼20% over 1 mm for UCNs in Earth’s gravity).
2.
Experimental Accessibility: Quantitative predictions for ultracold neutrons (
Section 5) confirm GLS observability: - Energy level shifts (
at
) - Probability density gradients (
) - Distinct spectral deviations from semi-classical models These signatures are resolvable with existing UCN interferometry, providing a terrestrial testbed for quantum-gravity effects.
3.
Superiority of QFT-CS Framework: The comparison in
Section 6 reveals critical limitations of semi-classical SE-WGF approaches, particularly their non-covariant quantization condition
versus the geometrically consistent QFT-CS form
. Only QFT-CS maintains general covariance, enabling systematic extension to strong fields (neutron stars), dynamical spacetimes (FRW cosmology), and anisotropic geometries (Kerr metric).
4.
Theoretical Ramifications: -
Quantum Measurement in Gravity: GLS implies that position measurements must account for curvature-distorted Hilbert spaces
. -
Strong-Field Regimes: Where
, GLS dominates quantum dynamics (
Section 3), necessitating QFT-CS for neutron star surface physics. -
Information-Geometry Link: The
-modulated probability current suggests curvature-induced decoherence for spatially extended quantum states.
Future work should pursue experimental detection of GLS via UCN interferometry and extend this framework to Dirac fields, where spin-curvature coupling may enhance gravitational distortions. The emergence of GLS underscores that spacetime curvature is not merely a background for quantum evolution but actively reshapes quantum reality—manifest not only in dynamical phases but in the very geometry of probability itself.