2008
Wezel, Jasper; Oosterkamp, Tjerk; Zaanen, Jan
Towards an experimental test of gravity-induced quantum state reduction Tijdschriftartikel
In: PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE, vol. 88, nr. 7, pp. 1005-1026, 2008, ISSN: 1478-6435.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: bose condensation; quantum mechanical calculationl; superconductors
@article{WOS:000257585500003,
title = {Towards an experimental test of gravity-induced quantum state reduction},
author = {Jasper Wezel and Tjerk Oosterkamp and Jan Zaanen},
doi = {10.1080/14786430801941824},
issn = {1478-6435},
year = {2008},
date = {2008-03-01},
journal = {PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE},
volume = {88},
number = {7},
pages = {1005-1026},
publisher = {TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD},
address = {2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OR14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND},
abstract = {Modern developments in condensed matter and cold atom physics have made
the realization of macroscopic quantum states in the laboratory everyday
practice. The ready availability of these states suggests the
possibility of experimentally investigating different proposals for the
mechanism of quantum state reduction. One such proposal is the
hypothesis of Penrose and Diosi, according to which quantum state
reduction is a manifestation of the incompatibilty of general relativity
and the unitary time evolution of quantum physics. Dimensional analysis
suggests that Schrodinger cat type states should collapse on measurable
time-scales when masses and lengths of the order of bacterial scales are
involved. We analyse this hypothesis in the context of the modern
experimental realizations of macroscopic quantum states. First we
consider `micromechanical' quantum states, analysing the capacity of an
atomic force microscopy based single spin detector to measure the
gravitational state reduction, but we conclude that it seems impossible
to suppress environmental decoherence to the required degree. We
subsequently discuss `split' cold atom condensates to find out that
these are at present lacking the required rnass-scale by many orders of
magnitude. We then extend Penrose's analysis to superpositions of mass
current carrying states, and we apply this to the flux quantum bits
realized in superconducting circuits. We find that the flux qubits
approach the scale where gravitational state reduction should become
measurable, but bridging the few remaining orders of magnitude appears
to be very difficult with present day technology.},
keywords = {bose condensation; quantum mechanical calculationl; superconductors},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Modern developments in condensed matter and cold atom physics have made
the realization of macroscopic quantum states in the laboratory everyday
practice. The ready availability of these states suggests the
possibility of experimentally investigating different proposals for the
mechanism of quantum state reduction. One such proposal is the
hypothesis of Penrose and Diosi, according to which quantum state
reduction is a manifestation of the incompatibilty of general relativity
and the unitary time evolution of quantum physics. Dimensional analysis
suggests that Schrodinger cat type states should collapse on measurable
time-scales when masses and lengths of the order of bacterial scales are
involved. We analyse this hypothesis in the context of the modern
experimental realizations of macroscopic quantum states. First we
consider `micromechanical' quantum states, analysing the capacity of an
atomic force microscopy based single spin detector to measure the
gravitational state reduction, but we conclude that it seems impossible
to suppress environmental decoherence to the required degree. We
subsequently discuss `split' cold atom condensates to find out that
these are at present lacking the required rnass-scale by many orders of
magnitude. We then extend Penrose's analysis to superpositions of mass
current carrying states, and we apply this to the flux quantum bits
realized in superconducting circuits. We find that the flux qubits
approach the scale where gravitational state reduction should become
measurable, but bridging the few remaining orders of magnitude appears
to be very difficult with present day technology.
the realization of macroscopic quantum states in the laboratory everyday
practice. The ready availability of these states suggests the
possibility of experimentally investigating different proposals for the
mechanism of quantum state reduction. One such proposal is the
hypothesis of Penrose and Diosi, according to which quantum state
reduction is a manifestation of the incompatibilty of general relativity
and the unitary time evolution of quantum physics. Dimensional analysis
suggests that Schrodinger cat type states should collapse on measurable
time-scales when masses and lengths of the order of bacterial scales are
involved. We analyse this hypothesis in the context of the modern
experimental realizations of macroscopic quantum states. First we
consider `micromechanical' quantum states, analysing the capacity of an
atomic force microscopy based single spin detector to measure the
gravitational state reduction, but we conclude that it seems impossible
to suppress environmental decoherence to the required degree. We
subsequently discuss `split' cold atom condensates to find out that
these are at present lacking the required rnass-scale by many orders of
magnitude. We then extend Penrose's analysis to superpositions of mass
current carrying states, and we apply this to the flux quantum bits
realized in superconducting circuits. We find that the flux qubits
approach the scale where gravitational state reduction should become
measurable, but bridging the few remaining orders of magnitude appears
to be very difficult with present day technology.