Quantum superposition of Cosmic String spacetimes

Abstract

Since the quantum nature of spacetime is anticipated by a theory of Quantum Gravity, the possibility of spacetime superposition would be a natural consequence. This spacetime interference phenomena could bring us some clues about what effects could be expected over quantum fields and their interaction with matter. In this article, we investigate the effect of the superposition of a Cosmic String spacetime on the Unruh-De Witt detector. This is of interest as the spacetimes possess flat geometry but non-trivial topology. We analyze the effect of the interference of a Cosmic String with different topological charge over the Unruh-De Witt detector response function to vacuum fluctuations. We obtain some quantum interference effects, due to the superposition of spacetimes, which would be absent if a classical probabilistic mixture of spacetimes would be considered. In this manner, we obtain real physical consequences that would be indications of a Quantum Gravity phenomena.