Gravity, the central force in the formation of galaxies and the stability of planetary systems, may not be fundamental. A recent study in physics and mathematics suggests this. Gymnestra Bianconi, Queen Mary University of London, proposes that it emerges from quantum entropy, offering a way to reconcile general relativity and quantum mechanics.
An entropic approach to gravity
The theory presented by Bianconi suggests that gravity is not a primary force, but the result of entropic action associated with quantum information.
Instead of masses curving spacetime, as formulated by Einstein, gravitational interaction would arise from the collective behavior of quantum states.
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At the heart of the proposal is the concept of relative quantum entropy, used to differentiate quantum states. Within this framework, the spaceTime ceases to be merely a passive scenario and begins to act as a quantum operator that influences and reshapes these states.
According to the author, incorporating quantum entropy into the geometry of spacetime preserves a smoothly curved, low-energy universe, consistent with current observations, but redefines the origin of gravity in a structurally distinct way.
Visualization of the interaction between two quantum geometries. Credit: Queen Mary University of London.
Spacetime as a dynamic quantum operator
The conceptual shift in relation to the vision of Albert Einstein It is profound. In general relativity, gravity arises from the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. In the new model, spacetime itself actively participates in quantum dynamics.
Bianconi’s article, published in Physical Review DThis mechanism is described as an entropic action that couples matter fields to the geometry of spacetime. This formulation introduces a new theoretical element: the so-called G-field.
The G-field is described as a vector field, endowed with direction and intensity, responsible for mediating the connection between matter and spacetime. It plays a central role in how quantum information influences gravitational behavior.
Why gravity resists direct quantization.
For decades, physics has struggled to unify general relativity, effective on cosmological scales, with quantum mechanics, which governs the microscopic world. The conceptual foundations of these theories are distinct, making a direct merging of them extremely complex.
Bianconi’s proposal circumvents this impasse by not attempting to quantize gravity in the traditional way. Instead, it treats it as an emergent phenomenon of the collective behavior of quantum states, allowing wave functions to interact with the gravitational field.
According to information released by Queen Mary University of London, this framework reduces the historical tension between the two theories by making spacetime dynamic and sensitive to changes in quantum information. This conceptual repositioning alters the role of gravity in the framework of fundamental physics.
Implications for dark matter and the expansion of the universe
One of the most relevant consequences of the theory is its possible relationship with dark matter. Bianconi suggests that if gravity can be described in terms of particles associated with the G-field, then that same field could explain the gravitational effects attributed to dark matter.
The magazine Popular Mechanics He highlighted that this approach offers a new perspective on the elusiveness of dark matter, which may not be composed of as-yet-undetected exotic particles, but rather of gravitational fields shaped by quantum information.
Furthermore, the model predicts an emergent cosmological constant, which may help explain the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and experimental observations about the expansion of the universe. Although not yet confirmed, the theory proposes a bold reinterpretation of some of the greatest enigmas of modern astrophysics.
The idea is far from being universally accepted, but it repositions gravity as a consequence of quantum entropy, opening new lines of investigation to understand the architecture of the universe as a whole, even if some points remain open and under discussion.
This article was prepared based on information from a study developed by Ginestra Bianconi, from Queen Mary University of London, published in the journal Physical Review D, In addition to institutional material from the university itself and an explanatory article from the magazine. Popular Mechanics.