Are intrinsic decoherence models physical theories?

TL;DR

This paper evaluates intrinsic decoherence models as potential physical theories by establishing bounds on parameter estimability, demonstrating their falsifiability and encouraging experimental investigation.

Contribution

It provides the first rigorous assessment of IDMs' status as physical theories through parameter bounds and falsifiability analysis.

Findings

Dephasing and dissipative IDMs are falsifiable.

IDMs can be tested and potentially distinguished experimentally.

Results support considering IDMs as legitimate physical theories.

Abstract

Intrinsic decoherence models (IDMs) have been proposed in order to solve the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. In this work, we assess the status of two of these models as physical theories by establishing the ultimate bounds on the estimability of their parameters. Our results show that dephasing and dissipative IDMs are amenable to falsification and should be considered physical theories worthy of experimental study.