BEND IT LIKE EINSTEIN: GRAVITATIONAL DEFLECTION OF CLASSICAL, QUANTUM AND EXOTIC LIGHT

摘要

Gravitational bending of light is a spectacular prediction of Einstein’s general relativity, tested and observed in numerous situations. We examine the fine structure of gravitational bending in new light to obtain insights pertaining to some deep links between gravity and quantum mechanics. The new results include quantum-theoretical interpretation of part of the light bending, making a good case for gravity encompassing wave–particle duality, perhaps a new insight for quantum gravity itself. We reiterate the mutual compatibility of the equivalence principle and quantum dynamics in a simple proof. Finally, we address certain unresolved issues regarding the gravitational bending of ultraslow light and tunneling photons in the context of experiments that might pose fresh challenges for the interface of the two century-old theories.