A new perspective on gravity emerges from the work of Ginestra Bianconi, professor of applied mathematics at Queen Mary University of London. Her study, published in Physical Review D, proposes an innovative approach connecting gravity and quantum mechanics.
Representation of the action of entropic quantum gravity. Credit: Physical Review D (2025).
Bianconi's research explores a novel path to unify two pillars of physics: quantum mechanics and Einstein's general relativity. She uses quantum relative entropy to describe gravity, a method that could solve persistent cosmological enigmas.
The study introduces a key concept: the G-field, an auxiliary field that plays a central role in the modified equations of gravity. This field could also shed light on the nature of dark matter, a still mysterious component of the Universe.
The modified Einstein equations proposed by Bianconi predict a positive cosmological constant, aligned with observations of the accelerated expansion of the Universe. This prediction offers a better fit with experimental data than previous theories.
Bianconi's work opens perspectives for cosmology and fundamental physics. By treating the space-time metric as a quantum operator, she proposes a new way of thinking about gravity and its interaction with matter.
This approach could also have implications for understanding dark matter. The G-field, as a Lagrange multiplier, offers a new interpretation of this elusive substance that constitutes a large part of the Universe's mass.
Future research will need to explore the implications of this theory, but it already represents a significant advance in the quest for a unified theory of quantum gravity. Bianconi's work could well redefine our understanding of the Universe.
This study also highlights the importance of entropy in understanding cosmological phenomena. By linking gravity and quantum information theory, it opens the way for new theoretical and experimental explorations.
What is quantum relative entropy?
Quantum relative entropy is a measure used in quantum information theory to quantify the difference between two quantum states. It plays a central role in Ginestra Bianconi's study, serving as a bridge between gravity and quantum mechanics.
This measure allows comparing the space-time metric, a key concept in general relativity, with the metric induced by matter fields. Using quantum relative entropy, Bianconi proposes a new way to describe gravity.
Bianconi's approach suggests that gravity could have an entropic origin, thus linking two fields of physics previously considered incompatible. This perspective opens new avenues for research in fundamental physics.
The use of quantum relative entropy could also have implications for understanding dark matter and the expansion of the Universe, providing a theoretical framework to explore these cosmological mysteries.
What is the role of the G-field in this theory?
The G-field is a central concept in the theory proposed by Ginestra Bianconi. It acts as a Lagrange multiplier, a mathematical technique used to incorporate constraints into physical equations.
Within this theory, the G-field plays a crucial role in the modified equations of gravity. It allows linking the space-time metric to matter fields, offering a new perspective on gravity.
The G-field could also have implications for understanding dark matter. As an auxiliary field, it offers a new interpretation of this substance that constitutes a large part of the Universe's mass.