Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air
Published on: February 5, 2017
Effects of Newtonian gravitational self-interaction in harmonically trapped quantum systems
André Großardt1,2, James Bateman3,4, Hendrik Ulbricht3
1Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34151 Miramare-Trieste, Italy.
Abstract:
The Schrödinger-Newton equation has gained attention in the recent past as a nonlinear modification of the Schrödinger equation due to a gravitational self-interaction. Such a modification is expected from a fundamentally semi-classical theory of gravity and can, therefore, be considered a test case for the necessity of the quantisation of the gravitational field. Here we provide a thorough study of the effects of the Schrödinger-Newton equation for a micron-sized sphere trapped in a harmonic oscillator potential. We discuss both the effect on the energy eigenstates and the dynamical behaviour of squeezed states, covering the experimentally relevant parameter regimes.
Related Concept Videos
Newton's Law of Gravitational Attraction
Newton's law of gravitational attraction is a fundamental law of physics that governs the attraction between objects. It states that the magnitude of the gravitational force between any two objects is proportional to their masses and inversely...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Newton's Law of Gravitation
Space-Time Curvature and the General Theory of Relativity
This has been verified in many experiments. However, space and time are no longer absolute. Two observers moving relative to one another do not agree on the length of objects or the passage of time. The mechanics of objects based on Newton's laws of...
Oscillations about an Equilibrium Position
The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom

