Test of the linearity of quantum mechanics in optically pumped Hg201

P. K. Majumder, B. J. Venema, S. K. Lamoreaux, B. R. Heckel, and E. N. Fortson
Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 2931 – Published 10 December 1990
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Abstract

Measurement of the free precession of nuclear spins in optically pumped ground-state Hg201 atoms has allowed a test of Weinberg’s nonlinear generalization of quantum mechanics. Shifts among the three resolved precession frequencies in the spin-3/2 system were studied as a function of the projection of spin polarization along the precession axis. Our results set an upper limit on ε, Weinberg’s nonlinearity parameter, of ‖ε‖/2πħ<3.8μ Hz, which corresponds to 2.0×1027 of the binding energy per nucleon. This is the most stringent such limit to date.

  • Received 13 August 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.65.2931

©1990 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

P. K. Majumder, B. J. Venema, S. K. Lamoreaux, B. R. Heckel, and E. N. Fortson

  • Physics Department, FM-15, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

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Vol. 65, Iss. 24 — 10 December 1990

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