Detecting continuous spontaneous localization with charged bodies in a Paul trap

Ying Li, Andrew M. Steane, Daniel Bedingham, and G. Andrew D. Briggs
Phys. Rev. A 95, 032112 – Published 13 March 2017

Abstract

Continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) is a model that captures the effects of a class of extensions to quantum theory which are expected to result from quantum gravity and is such that wave-function collapse is a physical process. The rate of such a process could be very much lower than the upper bounds set by searches to date and yet still modify greatly the interpretation of quantum mechanics and solve the quantum measurement problem. Consequently experiments are sought to explore this. We describe an experiment that has the potential to extend sensitivity to CSL by many orders of magnitude. The method is to detect heating of the motion of charged macroscopic objects confined in a Paul trap. We discuss the detection and the chief noise sources. We find that CSL with standard parameters could be observed using a vibration-isolated ion trap of size 1 cm at ultralow pressure with optical interferometric detection.

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  • Received 20 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.95.032112

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Atomic, Molecular & OpticalGeneral Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Ying Li1, Andrew M. Steane2, Daniel Bedingham3, and G. Andrew D. Briggs1

  • 1Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
  • 3Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 3 — March 2017

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