Testing collapse models with levitated nanoparticles: Detection challenge

Year: 2019

Authors: Vinante A., Pontin A., Rashid M., Toros M., Barker P.F., Ulbricht H.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Southampton, Dept Phys & Astron, Southampton SO17 1BJ, Hants, England; UCL, Dept Phys & Astron, London WC1E 6BT, England.

Abstract: We consider a nanoparticle levitated in a Paul trap in ultrahigh cryogenic vacuum, and look for the conditions which allow for a stringent noninterferometric test of spontaneous collapse models. In particular we compare different possible techniques to detect the particle motion. Key conditions which need to be achieved are extremely low residual pressure and the ability to detect the particle at ultralow power. We compare three different detection approaches based, respectively, on an optical cavity, an optical tweezer, and an electrical readout, and for each one we assess advantages, drawbacks, and technical challenges.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

Volume: 100 (1)      Pages from: 12119-1  to: 12119-13

More Information: The authors acknowledge support from the European Union H2020 FET project TEQ (Grant No. 766900). A.P. has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 749709.
KeyWords: Wave-function Collapse; Reduction; Dynamics; Systems; Bounds
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.100.012119