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Gravity-related collapse of the wave function and spontaneous heating: Revisiting the experimental bounds

Gravity-related collapse of the wave function and spontaneous heating: Revisiting the experimental bounds
Gravity-related collapse of the wave function and spontaneous heating: Revisiting the experimental bounds
The possibility that the collapse of the wave function in quantum mechanics is a real and ultimately connected to (classical) gravity has been debated for decades, with main contributions by Diósi and Penrose. In particular, Diósi proposed a noise-based dynamical reduction model, which captures the same orders of magnitude for the collapse time suggested by Penrose based on heuristic arguments. This is known in literature as the DP model (Diósi-Penrose). A peculiarity of the DP model is the prediction of spontaneous heating of matter, which can be tested without the need for massive quantum superpositions. Notably, a very similar effect is predicted by recent theoretical approaches to gravity as a classical-only information channel. Here, we reconsider the current constraints on the DP model from spontaneous heating, by analyzing experimental situations not properly considered before. We argue that the the parameter-free version of the DP model is close to be ruled out by standard heat leak measurements at ultralow temperature, with a conclusive exclusion likely within reach with existing technology. This result would strengthen a recent claim of exclusion inferred by spontaneous x-ray emission experiments, which relies on the somewhat stronger assumption that the DP noise field is white up to x-ray frequencies.
Vinante, Andrea
c05416dc-57b9-47cc-a14b-d57e8b4a8bd6
Ulbricht, Hendrik
5060dd43-2dc1-47f8-9339-c1a26719527d
Vinante, Andrea
c05416dc-57b9-47cc-a14b-d57e8b4a8bd6
Ulbricht, Hendrik
5060dd43-2dc1-47f8-9339-c1a26719527d

Vinante, Andrea and Ulbricht, Hendrik (2021) Gravity-related collapse of the wave function and spontaneous heating: Revisiting the experimental bounds. AVS Quantum Science, 3 (4). (doi:10.1116/5.0073450).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The possibility that the collapse of the wave function in quantum mechanics is a real and ultimately connected to (classical) gravity has been debated for decades, with main contributions by Diósi and Penrose. In particular, Diósi proposed a noise-based dynamical reduction model, which captures the same orders of magnitude for the collapse time suggested by Penrose based on heuristic arguments. This is known in literature as the DP model (Diósi-Penrose). A peculiarity of the DP model is the prediction of spontaneous heating of matter, which can be tested without the need for massive quantum superpositions. Notably, a very similar effect is predicted by recent theoretical approaches to gravity as a classical-only information channel. Here, we reconsider the current constraints on the DP model from spontaneous heating, by analyzing experimental situations not properly considered before. We argue that the the parameter-free version of the DP model is close to be ruled out by standard heat leak measurements at ultralow temperature, with a conclusive exclusion likely within reach with existing technology. This result would strengthen a recent claim of exclusion inferred by spontaneous x-ray emission experiments, which relies on the somewhat stronger assumption that the DP noise field is white up to x-ray frequencies.

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Accepted/In Press date: 5 November 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 23 November 2021
Additional Information: arXiv:2109.14980

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 456167
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/456167
PURE UUID: c62603ca-a8b4-49b2-8a10-b35bdd43cad2
ORCID for Hendrik Ulbricht: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0356-0065

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Date deposited: 26 Apr 2022 15:12
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:15

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Author: Andrea Vinante

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