由本·古里安大学、乌尔姆大学和牛津大学组成的国际研究团队实现了一项突破性进展，首次直接观测到量子物体中爱因斯坦引力的预测效应 1。该研究成果于2026年9月2日发表在《科学进展》期刊上 1。
研究人员采用量子伽利略干涉仪进行实验，使用微波脉冲将超冷铷原子置于量子叠加态 1。通过原子芯片内精确控制的磁场，使原子波的一部分保持静止，另一部分自由下落 1。随后将两部分重新结合并测量产生的量子相位差 1。测得的量子相位与将爱因斯坦等效原理应用于量子波的理论预测相符 1。
首席作者罗恩·福尔曼教授指出，"这是独特的论文，结合了艰难的实验与深远的理论解释，涉及物理学最基础的问题之一：引力理论（爱因斯坦相对论描述）和量子理论如何统一成对宇宙的一种理解" 1。弗拉特科·维德拉尔教授补充说，"这个实验将量子力学推向最有趣的前沿之一——引力，再次表明其预测成立" 1。该研究团队包括诺贝尔奖得主罗杰·彭罗斯教授 1。
An international research team has directly observed for the first time the predicted effects of Einstein's gravity on quantum objects, marking a significant milestone in bridging quantum mechanics and gravitational theory 1. Using a quantum Galileo interferometer, researchers from Ben-Gurion University, Ulm University, and Oxford University split the quantum wave of ultracold rubidium atoms into two parts—one kept stationary and the other allowed to free fall—then recombined them to measure the resulting quantum phase difference 1. The measured quantum phase matched predictions derived from applying Einstein's equivalence principle to quantum waves, providing experimental validation of this fundamental principle at the quantum scale 1.
The research, published on September 2, 2026, in Science Advances (Vol. 12, Issue 36, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aec8045), involved prominent physicists including Nobel laureate Professor Roger Penrose, lead author Professor Ron Folman, and Professor Vlatko Vedral 1. The team employed microwave pulses to place ultracold rubidium atoms in a quantum superposition state, using precisely controlled magnetic fields within an atomic chip to keep one portion of the atomic wave stationary while allowing another to fall freely 1.
Professor Folman stated that "this is a unique paper combining challenging experiments with far-reaching theoretical implications, addressing one of the most fundamental questions in physics: how to unify the theory of gravity as described by Einstein's relativity with quantum theory into a single understanding of the universe" 1. Professor Vedral added that "this experiment pushes quantum mechanics toward one of the most interesting frontiers—gravity—once again demonstrating that its predictions hold true" 1.
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