Testing Quantum Coherence in Stochastic Electrodynamics with Squeezed Schr\"{o}dinger Cat States

TL;DR

This paper tests whether stochastic electrodynamics can reproduce quantum interference effects by creating squeezed Schrödinger cat states, ultimately showing that SED cannot replicate quantum coherence phenomena.

Contribution

The study provides a direct experimental counterexample demonstrating SED's inability to produce quantum interference patterns with squeezed Schrödinger cat states.

Findings

Interference pattern appears in quantum probability distribution

No interference pattern in SED probability distribution

SED is invalid as an alternative to quantum mechanics for coherence phenomena

Abstract

The interference pattern in electron double-slit diffraction is a hallmark of quantum mechanics. A long standing question for stochastic electrodynamics (SED) is whether or not it is capable of reproducing such effects, as interference is a manifestation of quantum coherence. In this study, we use excited harmonic oscillators to directly test this quantum feature in SED. We use two counter-propagating dichromatic laser pulses to promote a ground-state harmonic oscillator to a squeezed Schr\"{o}dinger cat state. Upon recombination of the two well-separated wavepackets, an interference pattern emerges in the quantum probability distribution but is absent in the SED probability distribution. We thus give a counterexample that rejects SED as a valid alternative to quantum mechanics.