Quantum Galileo Interferometer Confirms Equivalence Principle for Atomic Waves at Ben-Gurion
The first direct test holding one branch of an atomic wave stationary while the other falls shows the equivalence principle survives at the quantum level. The result strengthens the case that classical gravity remains consistent with quantum superposition under laboratory conditions but does not yet reconcile the two theories. Larger separations and longer interrogation times are required to probe deeper.
Future runs with larger wave-packet separation or squeezed states could tighten bounds on possible nonlinear extensions of quantum mechanics in gravitational fields. A next-generation device at higher free-fall times or in microgravity would provide a stronger null-result test. The current data already constrain some phenomenological models by more than an order of magnitude compared with earlier proposals.
Dobkowski et al.: Phase deviation from equivalence prediction will remain below 0.1 rad at 10x larger wave-packet separation within 24 months.
Sources (2)
- [1]Primary Source(https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx1234)
- [2]Supporting Source(https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.04567)