Quantum superposition of massive bodies

Abstract

I describe the work done in collaboration with A. Belenchia, F. Giacomini, E. Castro-Ruiz, C. Bruckner and M. Aspelmeyer that analyzes a gedanken experiment involving a massive body that is put into a quantum superposition. Remarkably, even for a nonrelativistic body, both vacuum fluctuations of the gravitational field and the quantization of gravitational radiation are essential in order to avoid inconsistencies. In addition, it is essential that the quantum body be viewed as entangled with its own Newtonian-like gravitational field in order to understand how the body may become entangled with other massive bodies via gravitational interactions.