On observation of neutron quantum states in Earth gravitational field at Laue-Langevin Institute, Grenoble

2008/08/09 by Anatoli Vankov, Vankov, Anatoli Andrei
Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0808.1362

openalex publication_date 2008/08/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The experiment performed with ultra-cold neutrons at the Laue-Langevin Institute, Grenoble, is analyzed in view of the claim that ``neutron quantum states in Earth gravitational field'' are observed. Our conclusion is that the above claim is neither theoretically nor experimentally substantiated. We also criticize the statement that ``observation of the gravitationally bound quantum states of neutrons and the related experimental techniques provide a unique tool for a broad range of investigations in fundamental physics of particles and fields''.

Citations

• The quantum potential: the breakdown of classical symplectic symmetry and the energy of localisation and dispersion
• Quantum states of neutrons in the Earth's gravitational field
• Expectation value analysis of wave packet solutions for the quantum bouncer: Short-term classical and long-term revival behaviors

Related

• Quantization of neutron in Earth's gravity
• Quantum Mechanics and Gravitation
• Weakly bound states of neutrons in gravitational fields
• Interpretation of the neutron quantum gravitational states in terms of isospectral potentials
• Gravity experiments with ultracold neutrons and the qBounce experiment