Free nano-object Ramsey interferometry for large quantum superpositions
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Accepted version
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We propose an interferometric scheme based on an untrapped nano-object subjected to gravity.
The motion of the center of mass (c.m.) of the free object is coupled to its internal spin system
magnetically, and a free ight scheme is developed based on coherent spin control. The wavepacket
of the test object, under a spin-dependent force, may then be delocalized to a macroscopic scale.
A gravity induced dynamical phase (accrued solely on the spin state, and measured through a
Ramsey scheme) is used to reveal the above spatially delocalised superposition of the spin-nano-
object composite system that arises during our scheme. We nd a remarkable immunity to the
motional noise in the c.m. (initially in a thermal state with moderate cooling), and also a dynamical
decoupling nature of the scheme itself. Together they secure a high visibility of the resulting Ramsey
fringes. The mass independence of our scheme makes it viable for a nano-object selected from an
ensemble with a high mass variability. Given these advantages, a quantum superposition with 100nm spatial separation for a massive object of 10⁹ amu is achievable experimentally, providing a route
to test postulated modi cations of quantum theory such as continuous spontaneous localisation.
The motion of the center of mass (c.m.) of the free object is coupled to its internal spin system
magnetically, and a free ight scheme is developed based on coherent spin control. The wavepacket
of the test object, under a spin-dependent force, may then be delocalized to a macroscopic scale.
A gravity induced dynamical phase (accrued solely on the spin state, and measured through a
Ramsey scheme) is used to reveal the above spatially delocalised superposition of the spin-nano-
object composite system that arises during our scheme. We nd a remarkable immunity to the
motional noise in the c.m. (initially in a thermal state with moderate cooling), and also a dynamical
decoupling nature of the scheme itself. Together they secure a high visibility of the resulting Ramsey
fringes. The mass independence of our scheme makes it viable for a nano-object selected from an
ensemble with a high mass variability. Given these advantages, a quantum superposition with 100nm spatial separation for a massive object of 10⁹ amu is achievable experimentally, providing a route
to test postulated modi cations of quantum theory such as continuous spontaneous localisation.
Date Issued
2016-09-28
Date Acceptance
2016-07-05
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2016, 117
ISSN
1079-7114
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
117
Copyright Statement
This article is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
The Royal Society
Grant Number
CJATH
WM140063
Subjects
General Physics
02 Physical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
143003