Double-Slit Interference Pattern for a Macroscopic Quantum System

TL;DR

This paper analytically investigates double-slit interference patterns in a macroscopic quantum oscillator, exploring the transition from quantum to classical behavior and comparing quantum predictions with stochastic electrodynamics with spin.

Contribution

It provides an analytical solution for a macroscopic quantum system's interference patterns and compares quantum and stochastic electrodynamics predictions in different regimes.

Findings

Interference patterns become more classical as quantum character decreases

Quantum and stochastic predictions diverge depending on slit size

Analytical solutions elucidate quantum-classical transition in macroscopic systems

Abstract

In this study, we solve analytically the Schrodinger equation for a macroscopic quantum oscillator as a central system coupled to two environmental micro-oscillating particles. Then, the double-slit interference patterns are investigated in two limiting cases, considering the limits of uncertainty in the position probability distribution. Moreover, we analyze the interference patterns based on a recent proposal called stochastic electrodynamics with spin. Our results show that when the quantum character of the macro-system is decreased, the diffraction pattern becomes more similar to a classical one. We also show that, depending on the size of the slits, the predictions of quantum approach could be apparently different with those of the aforementioned stochastic description