Collapse dynamics and Hilbert-space stochastic processes

TL;DR

This paper investigates the collapse dynamics in quantum measurement models, specifically Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber theory, using numerical simulations of photon detection experiments to understand how superposition properties influence collapse times.

Contribution

It provides a numerical analysis of collapse times in GRW models considering experimental parameters and detector effects, highlighting their impact on quantum state reduction.

Findings

Collapse times depend on the number of detectors.

Superposition properties influence collapse dynamics.

Finite reaction times affect measurement outcomes.

Abstract

Spontaneous collapse models of state vector reduction represent a possible solution to the quantum measurement problem. In the present paper we focus our attention on the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) theory and the corresponding continuous localisation models in the form of a Brownian-driven motion in Hilbert space. We consider experimental setups in which a single photon hits a beam splitter and is subsequently detected by photon detector(s), generating a superposition of photon-detector quantum states. Through a numerical approach we study the dependence of collapse times on the physical features of the superposition generated, including also the effect of a finite reaction time of the measuring apparatus. We find that collapse dynamics is sensitive to the number of detectors and the physical properties of the photon-detector quantum states superposition.