Testing unconventional decoherence models with atoms in optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper proposes using atoms in optical lattices to efficiently test unconventional decoherence models, such as those induced by quantum gravity, by analyzing the coherence decay of delocalized atoms.

Contribution

It demonstrates that optical lattice experiments with a few atoms can effectively test quantum gravity-related decoherence models, offering a practical approach.

Findings

A single atom delocalized over 10 cm for 1 second can test quantum gravity decoherence.

Optical lattice techniques can distinguish between unconventional and conventional decoherence.

Optimal testing is achieved with a small number of atoms in realistic experimental setups.

Abstract

Various models have been proposed in which the Schr\"odinger equation is modified to account for a decay of spatial coherences of massive objects. While optomechanical systems and matter-wave interferometry with large clusters are promising candidates to test these models, we here show that using available techniques for atoms in optical lattices, some of these models can be efficiently tested. In particular, we compare unconventional decoherence due to quantum gravity as introduced by Ellis and co-workers [Phys. Lett. B ${\bf 221}$, 113 (1989)] and conventional decoherence due to scattering of the lattice photons and conclude that optimal performances are achieved with a few atoms in the realistic case where product atomic states are prepared. A detailed analysis shows that a single atom delocalized on a scale of 10 cm for about a second can be used to test efficiently the hypothetical quantum gravity induced decoherence.