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When does entanglement through gravity imply gravitons?

Nikolaos Mitrakos1, Maria Papageorgiou1, T. Rick Perche2, and Marios Christodoulou1

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Phys. Rev. D 114, 025019 – Published 24 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/lq47-1hfg

Abstract

Detection of entanglement through the Newtonian potential has been claimed to support the existence of gravitons, by extrapolating to a thought experiment which demonstrates that complementarity and causality would be in conflict unless quantum fluctuations exist. We critically assess this consistency argument using scalar field models. We show that whether complementarity or no-signaling is violated when quantum fluctuations are neglected, depends on how this approximation is taken, while in both cases entanglement is generated locally in spacetime. We clarify that the correct reading of the paradox requires making a clear distinction between two notions of causality violation: Newtonian action-at-a-distance and quantum mechanical signaling at spacelike separation; the latter is pertinent while the former is not. We conclude that the thought experiment (a) does not add to the epistemological relevance of entanglement through Newtonian potentials (b) lends support for the existence of gravitons, if retardation effects are detected in entanglement through gravity.

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Phys. Rev. D 114, 025019– Published 24 July, 2026
  • Received 16 April 2026
  • Accepted 12 June 2026
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