Entropy production due to spacetime fluctuations

Abstract

Understanding the quantum nature of the gravitational field is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges in theoretical physics. Despite significant progress, a complete and consistent theory remains elusive. However, in the weak field approximation—where curvature effects are small—we can explore some expected properties of such a theory. Particularly relevant to this study is the quantum nature of gravitational waves, which are represented as small perturbations in flat spacetime. In this framework, a quantum description of these perturbations, as a quantum field, is feasible, leading to the emergence of the graviton. Here we consider a non-relativistic quantum system interacting with such a field. We employ the consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics, which allows us to frame classical questions in a quantum context, to define a fluctuation relation for this system. As a result, thermodynamic entropy must be produced in the system due to its unavoidable interaction with the quantum fluctuations of spacetime.