Experimental signatures of the quantum-classical transition in a nanomechanical oscillator modeled as a damped driven double-well problem

TL;DR

This paper identifies observable signatures of the quantum-to-classical transition in a nanomechanical oscillator modeled as a damped double-well system, suggesting experimental feasibility using current nanomechanical technology.

Contribution

It introduces a method to detect quantum-classical transition signatures in a nanomechanical system using Quantum State Diffusion, bridging theory and experimental realization.

Findings

Robust signatures of quantum-classical transition identified

Signatures are within experimental reach in nanomechanical beams

Quantum State Diffusion effectively models open quantum systems

Abstract

We demonstrate robust and reliable signatures for the transition from quantum to classical behavior in the position probability distribution of a damped double-well system using the Qunatum State Diffusion approach to open quantum systems. We argue that these signatures are within experimental reach, for example in a doubly-clamped nanomechanical beam.