References: Gravity and Quantum Mechanics

In general relativity, the effects of gravitation are ascribed to spacetime curvature instead of to a force.
The starting
point for general relativity is the equivalence principle, which equates free fall with inertial motion. The issue that this
creates is that free-falling objects can accelerate with respect to each other. In Newtonian physics, no such acceleration
can occur unless at least one of the objects is being operated on by a force (and therefore is not moving inertially).
To deal with this difficulty, Einstein proposed that spacetime is curved by matter, and that free-falling objects are moving
along locally straight paths in curved spacetime. (This type of path is called a geodesic). More specifically, Einstein and
Hilbert discovered the field equations of general relativity, which relate the presence of matter and the curvature of
spacetime and are named after Einstein. The Einstein field equations are a set of 10 simultaneous, nonlinear, differential equations. The solutions of the field equations are the components of the metric tensor of spacetime.
A metric tensor describes the geometry of spacetime. The geodesic paths for a spacetime are calculated from the
metric tensor.
Notable solutions of the Einstein field equations include:
The Schwarzschild solution, which describes spacetime surrounding a spherically symmetric nonrotating uncharged massive object. For compact enough objects, this solution generated a black hole with a
central singularity. For radial distances from the center which are much greater than the Schwarzschild radius, the
accelerations predicted by the Schwarzschild solution are practically identical to those predicted by Newton's
theory of gravity.
The ReissnerNordstrm solution, in which the central object has an electrical charge. For charges with
a geometrized length which are less than the geometrized length of the mass of the object, this solution produces
black holes with an event horizon surrounding a Cauchy horizon.
The Kerr solution for rotating massive objects. This solution also produces black holes with multiple horizons.
The cosmological RobertsonWalker solution, which predicts the expansion of the universe.
General relativity has enjoyed much success because of the way its predictions of phenomena which are not called for
by the older theory of gravity have been regularly confirmed. For example:
General relativity accounts for the anomalous perihelion precession of the planet Mercury.
The prediction of the deflection of light was first confirmed by Arthur Eddington in 1919, and has more recently
been strongly confirmed through the use of a quasar which passes behind the Sun as seen from the Earth. See
also gravitational lensing.
The time delay of light passing close to a massive object was first identified by Irwin Shapiro in 1964 in
interplanetary spacecraft signals.
Gravitational radiation has been indirectly confirmed through studies of binary pulsars. In 2016,
the LIGO experiments directly detected gravitational radiation from two colliding black holes, making this the first
direct observation of both the gravitational radiation as well as black holes.
The expansion of the universe (predicted by the RobertsonWalker metric) was confirmed by Edwin Hubble in
1929.
The prediction that time runs slower at lower potentials has been confirmed by the PoundRebka experiment,
the HafeleKeating experiment, and the GPS.
Gravity and quantum mechanics[edit]

Main articles: Graviton and Quantum gravity
Several decades after the discovery of general relativity it was realized that it cannot be the complete theory of gravity
because it is incompatible with quantum mechanics.[10]Later it was understood that it is possible to describe gravity in the
framework of quantum field theory like the other fundamental forces. In this framework the attractive force of gravity
arises due to exchange of virtual gravitons, in the same way as the electromagnetic force arises from exchange of
virtual photons.[11][12] This reproduces general relativity in the classical limit. However, this approach fails at short
distances of the order of the Planck length.[10]
It is notable that in general relativity, gravitational radiation, which under the rules of quantum mechanics must be
composed of gravitons, is created only in situations where the curvature of spacetime is oscillating, such as is the case
with co-orbiting objects. The amount of gravitational radiation emitted by the solar system is far too small to measure.
However, gravitational radiation has been observed both indirectly, as an energy loss over time in binary pulsar systems
such as PSR 1913+16, and directly by the LIGOgravitational wave observatory, whose first detection (named
GW150914) occurred on 14 September 2015[13] and matched theoretical predictions of signals due to the inward spiral
and merger of a pair of black holes. It is believed that neutron star mergers and black hole formation may also create
detectable amounts of gravitational radiation.
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In general relativity, the effects of gravitation are ascribed to spacetime curvature instead of to a force.

Gravity and quantum mechanics[edit]

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