Microscopic Origins of Collapse Models: Decoherence from Graviton Bremsstrahlung

TL;DR

This paper investigates how graviton emission causes decoherence in quantum superpositions, linking gravitational effects to wave function collapse through a quantum Boltzmann framework.

Contribution

It introduces a quantitative measure connecting superposition stability to spatial separation, mass, and gravitational coupling, providing a detailed decoherence analysis.

Findings

Derived the decoherence rate based on graviton bremsstrahlung

Linked superposition stability to spatial separation, mass, and gravity

Bridged quantum field theory with collapse models for gravity-induced decoherence

Abstract

Some collapse models proposed that gravitational effects cause the instability of mass distribution superpositions, leading to wave function collapse. In this paper, we utilize the quantum Boltzmann equation (QBE) to analyze the behavior of a fermion in a spatial superposition under graviton emission. We introduce a quantitative measure that links the stability of the superposition to the spatial separation, particle mass, and gravitational coupling. By examining the collision term in the QBE, we derive the decoherence rate and show how it depends on these parameters. Our results provide a detailed framework for understanding gravity induced decoherence, bridging the gap between quantum field theory and collapse models. We also discuss the implications of these findings for experimental tests of gravitationally induced wave function collapse and the broader class of collapse models known as dissipative continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model.