Signatures for Generalized Macroscopic Superpositions

2006/10/26 by Eric G. Cavalcanti, E. G. Cavalcanti, M. D. Reid
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Artificial intelligence #Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) #Computer science #Eigenvalues and eigenvectors #Gaussian #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Physics #Pointer (user interface) #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum entanglement #Quantum mechanics #Statistical physics #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.97.170405

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 170405 (2006) · 4 pages, 2 figures, some changes made

openalex publication_date 2006/10/26 · arxiv created 2007/01/29 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We develop criteria sufficient to enable detection of macroscopic coherence where there are not just two macroscopically distinct outcomes for a pointer measurement, but rather a spread of outcomes over a macroscopic range. The criteria provide a means to distinguish a macroscopic quantum description from a microscopic one based on mixtures of microscopic superpositions of pointer-measurement eigenstates. The criteria are applied to Gaussian-squeezed and spin-entangled states.

Citations

• Stimulated emission of polarization-entangled photons
• Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?
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