Optomechanical test of the Schr\"odinger-Newton equation

TL;DR

This paper proposes an optomechanical experiment using a trapped microdisc to test the Schr"odinger-Newton equation, which introduces self-gravitational effects that modify quantum dynamics and could be experimentally observed.

Contribution

It introduces a feasible experimental setup with existing technology to test the Schr"odinger-Newton equation through spectral distortion in a harmonic system.

Findings

Spectral distortion due to self-gravity predicted

Experiment feasible with current optomechanical technology

Potential to experimentally test quantum gravity alternatives

Abstract

The Schr\"odinger-Newton equation has been proposed as an experimentally testable alternative to quantum gravity, accessible at low energies. It contains self-gravitational terms, which slightly modify the quantum dynamics. Here we show that it distorts the spectrum of a harmonic system. Based on this effect, we propose an optomechanical experiment with a trapped microdisc to test the Schr\"odinger-Newton equation, and we show that it can be realized with existing technology.