Generation of macroscopic quantum-superposition states by linear coupling to a bath

TL;DR

This paper shows that coupling a large-spin system to a thermal bath can generate macroscopic quantum superpositions, using an exactly solvable model to demonstrate the process and discuss experimental possibilities.

Contribution

It introduces a model where linear bath coupling induces nonlinear effects, enabling creation of macroscopic superpositions in many-body quantum systems.

Findings

Thermal bath coupling induces effective nonlinearities.

Large-spin systems can be driven into superpositions.

Model is exactly solvable and experimentally relevant.

Abstract

We demonstrate through an exactly solvable model that collective coupling to any thermal bath induces effectively nonlinear couplings in a quantum many-body (multi-spin) system. The resulting evolution can drive an uncorrelated large-spin system with high probability into a macroscopic quantum-superposition state. We discuss possible experimental realizations.