Abstract
It is shown that the effect of a gravitational field on a hydrogen atom is to admix states of opposite parity such as 2S 1/2 and 2P 1/2 The phase of this admixture is such as to produce circular polarization of the radiation emitted in transltions such as 2S 1/2→1S 1/2+γ which arises from the interference between the gravity-induced amplitude and mat due to the weak neutral current. The predicted magnitude of the circular polarization, which could be sufficiently large to be detected in white dwarfs or in certain binary systems, varies from theory to theory. It is thus possible that a study of this effect could provide a feasible means of testing general relativity at the quantum level.
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This essay received the fourth award from the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 1979-Ed.
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Fischbach, E., Freeman, B.S. Testing general relativity at the quantum level. Gen Relat Gravit 11, 377–381 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00759300
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00759300