Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
11:34
Investigating Receptor-ligand Systems of the Cellulosome with AFM-based Single-molecule Force Spectroscopy
Published on: December 20, 2013
7.8K
Improved Noninterferometric Test of Collapse Models Using Ultracold Cantilevers.
A Vinante1, R Mezzena2,3, P Falferi1,3
1Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, CNR-Fondazione Bruno Kessler, I-38123 Povo, Trento, Italy.
Physical Review Letters
|September 27, 2017
Summary
Researchers investigated spontaneous collapse models using a millikelvin-cooled cantilever. Excess nonthermal force noise was detected, potentially supporting the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model and improving experimental bounds.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Experimental physics
- Statistical mechanics
Background:
- Spontaneous collapse models propose a weak force noise acting on mechanical systems due to wave function collapse.
- Previous experiments with ultracold cantilevers and LISA Pathfinder have set upper limits on collapse rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test predictions of spontaneous collapse models, specifically the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model.
- To improve current experimental bounds on the CSL collapse rate by one order of magnitude.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a high-Q cantilever cooled to millikelvin temperatures for high-precision measurements.
- Analyzed thermal fluctuations of the cantilever to detect anomalous force noise.
Main Results:
- Observed a nonthermal force noise with an unknown origin in the cantilever's thermal fluctuations.
- The detected excess noise is consistent with the CSL heating predicted by Adler.
- Ruled out several potential physical mechanisms as explanations for the observed noise.
Conclusions:
- The experiment provides new data potentially constraining spontaneous collapse models.
- The observed nonthermal noise warrants further investigation and may offer a new avenue for testing quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales.
