Gravity Fails to Entangle: A Quantum Link Remains Broken

Author: Denis Avetisyan

New research refutes claims that gravity can directly mediate entanglement between massive objects.

A detailed analysis of a proposed gravitational entanglement mechanism reveals it does not generate genuine, non-classical correlations.

The persistent challenge of unifying gravity with quantum mechanics necessitates rigorous examination of proposed gravitational phenomena. Recent work, titled ‘Classical gravity cannot mediate entanglement’, claimed a mechanism for generating entanglement via classical gravity; however, we demonstrate that this model fails to produce genuine entanglement. Our analysis reveals that any apparent correlations arise not from gravitational interactions, but from the underlying matter interactions—meaning gravity itself cannot be the mediator. Does this definitively establish entanglement as an unambiguous signature of quantum gravity, and what implications does this have for testing quantum gravitational theories?

The Gravity-Quantum Interface: A Persistent Challenge

Detecting quantum effects in gravity remains a fundamental challenge in contemporary physics. Classical Newtonian gravity inadequately describes gravitational phenomena at extreme scales, motivating the search for a quantum theory of gravity. Current theoretical frameworks, including string theory and loop quantum gravity, attempt to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics, but face hurdles in generating and detecting quantum entanglement between massive objects. Creating such entanglement would not only provide evidence for a quantum nature of gravity but also open avenues for exploring the structure of spacetime.

The Aziz-Howl Model: A False Promise?

The Aziz-Howl model proposed a mechanism for generating quantum entanglement between macroscopic objects, utilizing a specific Hamiltonian interaction. However, recent analysis demonstrates that, given the model’s assumptions, sustained entanglement cannot be achieved. Calculations reveal that the interaction strength, combined with system parameters, leads to rapid decoherence, contradicting the model’s primary assertion.

Tools of Approximation: Perturbation and Propagation

The model’s development relies on established methods like Perturbative Expansion and Quantum Field Theory to approximate complex interactions. These techniques simplify many-body problems, allowing for tractable calculations. Understanding the Matter Propagator is vital for accurately calculating particle propagation during entanglement. Correctly accounting for its behavior is crucial for predicting entanglement dynamics. The Global Phase, while often negligible, must be accounted for to ensure a correct quantum mechanical description and preserve unitarity.

Decoherence and the Limits of Observation

Observing gravitational entanglement presents substantial challenges, primarily due to decoherence – the loss of quantum coherence through environmental interaction. Correlation Environmental Noise further complicates detection, introducing fluctuations that can mimic or mask the entanglement signal. Establishing fundamental limits of entanglement detection relies on Information-Theoretic Axioms, providing a framework for defining a verifiable entanglement signal despite noise and decoherence. Every dataset is, ultimately, just an opinion from reality.

Beyond Global Hamiltonians: Future Directions

Current models often rely on global Hamiltonian formulations, limiting scalability. Exploring Ultra-Local Hamiltonian formulations may offer a pathway to simplify calculations and improve robustness, particularly in complex systems. Further investigation into the interplay between the Quantum Matter Field and model parameters is necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms driving entanglement. Ultimately, a combined theoretical and experimental approach is crucial to validate these models and unlock the potential of gravitationally mediated entanglement, requiring advancements in both precision measurement and theoretical frameworks.

The pursuit of gravitationally-mediated entanglement, as explored in this work, highlights a recurring challenge in theoretical physics: the temptation to find elegance where none exists. This paper meticulously dismantles the proposal by Aziz and Howl, revealing that their model fails to generate genuine entanglement—a compromise between the convenience of a simple Hamiltonian and the knowledge of actual quantum behavior. As John Bell observed, “No phenomenon is a single phenomenon.” This resonates deeply; the initial appeal of a straightforward gravitational mechanism masked a failure to account for the nuances of quantum field theory, ultimately demonstrating that a seemingly plausible model could not withstand scrutiny. The study serves as a potent reminder that optimal solutions are often illusory, dependent on the specific, and often unstated, assumptions embedded within the theoretical framework.

What’s Next?

The demonstration that a seemingly plausible avenue for gravitationally-mediated entanglement founders on the rocks of established quantum field theory is, predictably, less a closure than an invitation. The persistent appeal of linking quantum phenomena to gravity stems not from any inherent physical necessity, but from a dissatisfaction with the limitations of current models. The failure here isn’t of the mathematics, but of the initial presumption – that gravity should behave as a simple mediator in this context. Data isn’t the goal – it’s a mirror of human error, revealing the biases embedded within theoretical frameworks.

Future work will inevitably attempt alternative configurations, perhaps invoking more complex gravitational fields or exploring modifications to the ultra-local Hamiltonian. However, a more fruitful direction may lie in accepting the demonstrable difficulty of creating macroscopic quantum superpositions. The challenge isn’t merely to find entanglement mediated by gravity, but to understand why it remains elusive, even in principle.

Ultimately, the search for gravitational entanglement may prove less about confirming a specific mechanism, and more about refining the boundaries of quantum mechanics itself. Even what we can’t measure still matters – it’s just harder to model. The continued investigation will likely reveal less about gravity’s role in entanglement, and more about the subtle ways in which our intuitive notions of spacetime clash with the quantum realm.

Original article: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.07348.pdf

Contact the author: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avetisyan/