Probing wave function collapse models with a classically driven mechanical oscillator

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method using opto-mechanical entanglement generated by pulsed laser light to test wave function collapse models, providing a sensitive way to detect deviations from standard quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It introduces an entanglement witness and optical recording techniques to probe wave function collapse models via mechanical oscillators driven by laser light.

Findings

Demonstrates the creation of opto-mechanical entangled states.

Proposes a feasible experimental setup to test collapse models.

Identifies challenges for experimental verification.

Abstract

We show that the interaction of a pulsed laser light with a mechanical oscillator through the radiation pressure results in an opto-mechanical entangled state in which the photon number is correlated with the oscillator position. Interestingly, the mechanical oscillator can be delocalized over a large range of positions when driven by an intense laser light. This provides a simple yet sensitive method to probe hypothetic post-quantum theories including an explicit wave function collapse model, like the Diosi and Penrose model. We propose an entanglement witness to reveal the quantum nature of this opto-mechanical state as well as an optical technique to record the decoherence of the mechanical oscillator. We also report on a detailed feasibility study giving the experimental challenges that need to be overcome to confirm or rule out predictions from explicit wave function collapse models.