An atomic test of higher-order interference

TL;DR

This paper explores higher-order interference in quantum mechanics by proposing atomic analogs of multi-slit experiments, aiming to test the universality of Born's rule with improved precision over previous photon and molecule experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a new atomic system-based approach to test higher-order interference, extending the scope of previous experiments beyond photons and molecules.

Findings

Proposes atomic analogs of multi-slit experiments with tripod energy levels.

Details implementation methods for slit blockers in atomic setups.

Estimates improved experimental precision over prior tests.

Abstract

Canonical quantum formalism predicts that the interference pattern registered in multi-slit experiments should be a simple combination of patterns observed in two-slit experiments. This has been linked to the validity of Born's rule and verified in precise experiments with photons as well as molecules via nuclear magnetic resonance. Due to the expected universal validity of Born rule, it is instructive to conduct similar tests with yet other physical systems. Here we discuss analogs of triple-slit experiment using atoms allowing tripod energy level configuration, as realisable e.g. with alkaline-earth-like atoms. We cover all the stages of the setup including various ways of implementing analogs of slit blockers. The precision of the final setup is estimated and offers improvement over the previous experiments.