Testing collapse models with Bose-Einstein-condensate interferometry

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Documents

  • Bjorn Schrinski
  • Philipp Haslinger
  • Jorg Schmiedmayer
  • Klaus Hornberger
  • Stefan Nimmrichter

The model of continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) is the most prominent consistent modification of quantum mechanics predicting an objective quantum-to-classical transition. Here we show that precision interferometry with Bose-Einstein-condensed atoms can serve to lower the current empirical bound on the localization rate parameter by several orders of magnitude. This works by focusing on the atom count dis-tributions rather than just mean population imbalances in the interferometric signal of squeezed Bose-Einstein condendates, without the need for highly entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-like states. In fact, the interplay between CSL-induced diffusion and dispersive atom-atom interactions results in an amplified sensitivity of the condensate to CSL. We discuss experimentally realistic measurement schemes utilizing state-of-the-art experimental techniques to test new regions of parameter space and, pushed to the limit, to probe and potentially rule out large relevant parameter regimes of CSL.

Original languageEnglish
Article number043320
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume107
Issue number4
Number of pages12
ISSN2469-9926
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Apr 2023

    Research areas

  • QUANTUM, LOCALIZATION, ATOMS

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