Stability of charged particles inside a Paul trap with spontaneous localization dynamics

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spontaneous localization effects, as predicted by the CSL model, could influence the stability of charged particles in Paul traps, and uses stability considerations to constrain CSL parameters.

Contribution

It analyzes the impact of CSL-induced stochastic motion on Paul trap stability and derives new bounds on CSL parameters based on stability criteria.

Findings

CSL effects can destabilize particles in Paul traps under certain conditions

Stability diagrams are altered by CSL, allowing for parameter constraints

Derived bounds on CSL parameters are weaker than those from X-ray emission experiments

Abstract

Paul traps are ion traps that are widely used in spectroscopic experiments to confine and stabilize a charged particle within a small region using oscillating electric fields. The dynamics of the particle inside a Paul trap is described by Mathieu equations. It has been proposed that such traps can be used to detect the effects produced by spontaneous collapse of the associated wavefunction, as described by the model of CSL (Continuous Spontaneous Localization). This model is a non-linear, stochastic and non-relativistic modification to the Schr\"{o}dinger equation which predicts an additional random motion of particles other than environmental effects. In this paper, we discuss the possibility that such a random motion can throw a particle out of its stable configuration within the Paul trap. We study the changes in the stability diagram of a Paul trap in the presence of CSL. We also constrain the CSL parameter space by assuming the fact that the stability diagram is not significantly altered. The bounds thus obtained are weaker than those coming from X-ray emission from Ge slab.