Exploring the Effects of Mass Dependence in Spontaneous Collapse Models

TL;DR

This paper investigates how different mass-dependent functions in spontaneous collapse models affect their theoretical consistency and experimental viability, highlighting a particular model (PSL) that is more robust against falsification.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized framework for mass dependence in collapse models and analyzes their viability, extending previous models and identifying the resilient PSL model.

Findings

Limited range of viable mass-dependence functions identified

PSL model shows greater resilience to experimental falsification

Implications for future empirical testing of collapse models

Abstract

Spontaneous collapse models aim to solve the long-standing measurement problem in quantum mechanics by modifying the theory's dynamics to include objective wave function collapses. These collapses occur randomly in space, bridging the gap between quantum and classical behavior. A central feature of these models is their dependence on mass density, which directly influences how and when collapse events occur. In this work, we explore a generalized framework in which the collapse dynamics depend on arbitrary functions of the mass density, extending previous models. We analyze the theoretical consistency of these generalizations, investigate their predictions, and compare them with experimental data. Our findings show that only a limited range of mass-dependence functions are viable, with significant implications for the future development and empirical testability of collapse-based models. Importantly, they also indicate that a well-justified model denoted here as PSL shows much more resilience to experimental falsification than standard collapse models.