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Collapse models: from theoretical foundations to experimental verifications

Collapse models: from theoretical foundations to experimental verifications
Collapse models: from theoretical foundations to experimental verifications
The basic strategy underlying models of spontaneous wave function collapse (collapse models) is to modify the Schrödinger equation by including nonlinear stochastic terms, which tend to localize wave functions in space in a dynamical manner. These terms have negligible effects on microscopic systems—therefore their quantum behaviour is practically preserved. On the other end, since the strength of these new terms scales with the mass of the system, they become dominant at the macroscopic level, making sure that wave functions of macro-objects are always well-localized in space. We will review these basic features. By changing the dynamics of quantum systems, collapse models make predictions, which are different from standard quantum mechanical predictions. Although they are difficult to detect, we discuss the most relevant scenarios, where such deviations can be observed.
1742-6588
Bassi, Angelo
374a70f7-61f8-4656-bb45-5857695750f1
Ulbricht, Hendrik
5060dd43-2dc1-47f8-9339-c1a26719527d
Bassi, Angelo
374a70f7-61f8-4656-bb45-5857695750f1
Ulbricht, Hendrik
5060dd43-2dc1-47f8-9339-c1a26719527d

Bassi, Angelo and Ulbricht, Hendrik (2014) Collapse models: from theoretical foundations to experimental verifications. [in special issue: EmQM13: Emergent Quantum Mechanics 2013 3�6 October 2013, Vienna, Austria] Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 504 (12023). (doi:10.1088/1742-6596/504/1/012023).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The basic strategy underlying models of spontaneous wave function collapse (collapse models) is to modify the Schrödinger equation by including nonlinear stochastic terms, which tend to localize wave functions in space in a dynamical manner. These terms have negligible effects on microscopic systems—therefore their quantum behaviour is practically preserved. On the other end, since the strength of these new terms scales with the mass of the system, they become dominant at the macroscopic level, making sure that wave functions of macro-objects are always well-localized in space. We will review these basic features. By changing the dynamics of quantum systems, collapse models make predictions, which are different from standard quantum mechanical predictions. Although they are difficult to detect, we discuss the most relevant scenarios, where such deviations can be observed.

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e-pub ahead of print date: October 2013
Published date: 2014
Organisations: Physics & Astronomy

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Local EPrints ID: 367135
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/367135
ISSN: 1742-6588
PURE UUID: b07b1b3d-de2f-468b-94d8-1c4add071d3a
ORCID for Hendrik Ulbricht: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0356-0065

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Date deposited: 22 Jul 2014 15:22
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:31

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Author: Angelo Bassi

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