TY - JOUR
T1 - Gravito-diamagnetic forces for mass independent large spatial superpositions
AU - Zhou, Run
AU - Marshman, Ryan J.
AU - Bose, Sougato
AU - Mazumdar, Anupam
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd
PY - 2024/5/1
Y1 - 2024/5/1
N2 - Creating a massive spatial quantum superposition, such as the Schrödinger cat state, where the mass and the superposition size within the range 10−19 − 10−14 kg and Δx ∼ 10 nm − 100 μm, is a challenging task. The methods employed so far rely either on wavepacket expansion or on a quantum ancilla, e.g. single spin dependent forces, which scale inversely with mass. In this paper, we present a novel approach that combines gravitational acceleration and diamagnetic repulsion to generate a large spatial superposition in a relatively short time. After first creating a modest initial spatial superposition of 1 μm, achieved through techniques such as the Stern-Gerlach (SG) apparatus, we will show that we can achieve an ∼102−103 fold improvement to the spatial superposition size (1 μm → 980 μm) between the wave packets in less than 0.02 s by using the Earth’s gravitational acceleration and then the diamagnetic repulsive scattering of the nanocrystal, neither of which depend on the object mass. Finally, the wave packet trajectories can be closed so that spatial interference fringes can be observed. Our findings highlight the potential of combining gravitational acceleration and diamagnetic repulsion to create and manipulate large spatial superpositions, offering new insights into creating macroscopic quantum superpositions.
AB - Creating a massive spatial quantum superposition, such as the Schrödinger cat state, where the mass and the superposition size within the range 10−19 − 10−14 kg and Δx ∼ 10 nm − 100 μm, is a challenging task. The methods employed so far rely either on wavepacket expansion or on a quantum ancilla, e.g. single spin dependent forces, which scale inversely with mass. In this paper, we present a novel approach that combines gravitational acceleration and diamagnetic repulsion to generate a large spatial superposition in a relatively short time. After first creating a modest initial spatial superposition of 1 μm, achieved through techniques such as the Stern-Gerlach (SG) apparatus, we will show that we can achieve an ∼102−103 fold improvement to the spatial superposition size (1 μm → 980 μm) between the wave packets in less than 0.02 s by using the Earth’s gravitational acceleration and then the diamagnetic repulsive scattering of the nanocrystal, neither of which depend on the object mass. Finally, the wave packet trajectories can be closed so that spatial interference fringes can be observed. Our findings highlight the potential of combining gravitational acceleration and diamagnetic repulsion to create and manipulate large spatial superpositions, offering new insights into creating macroscopic quantum superpositions.
KW - diamagnetic repulsion
KW - macroscopic quantum superpositions
KW - mass-independent interferometer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85190726972&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1402-4896/ad37df
DO - 10.1088/1402-4896/ad37df
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85190726972
SN - 0031-8949
VL - 99
JO - Physica Scripta
JF - Physica Scripta
IS - 5
M1 - 055114
ER -