Optomechanical tests of a Schrödinger-Newton equation for gravitational quantum mechanics

C. C. Gan, C. M. Savage, and S. Z. Scully
Phys. Rev. D 93, 124049 – Published 20 June 2016
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  • INTRODUCTION
  • THE SCHRÖDINGER-NEWTON EQUATION
  • OPTOMECHANICAL THEORY
  • THE SCHRÖDINGER-NEWTON SIGNATURE IN…
  • CONCLUSION
  • ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
    • References

    Abstract

    We show that optomechanical systems can test the Schrödinger-Newton equation of gravitational quantum mechanics due to Yang et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 170401 (2013). This equation is motivated by semiclassical gravity, a widely used theory of interacting gravitational and quantum fields. From the many-body Schrödinger-Newton equation follows an approximate equation for the center-of-mass dynamics of macroscopic objects. This predicts a distinctive double-peaked signature in the output optical quadrature power spectral density of certain optomechanical systems. Since the Schrödinger-Newton equation lacks free parameters, these will allow its experimental confirmation or refutation.

    • Figure
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    • Received 14 December 2015

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.93.124049

    © 2016 American Physical Society

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    1. Research Areas
    Atom interferometryCavity quantum electrodynamicsQuantum foundations
    Atomic, Molecular & OpticalGravitation, Cosmology & Astrophysics

    Authors & Affiliations

    C. C. Gan

    • Department of Quantum Science, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia and Department of Physics, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    C. M. Savage* and S. Z. Scully

    • Department of Quantum Science, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia

    • *craig.savage@anu.edu.au

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    Issue

    Vol. 93, Iss. 12 — 15 June 2016

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