X-Ray Emission from Atomic Systems Can Distinguish between Prevailing Dynamical Wave-Function Collapse Models
Kristian Piscicchia1,2, Sandro Donadi3,4, Simone Manti2
1<a href="https://ror.org/01qb1sw63">Centro Ricerche Enrico Fermi-Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi"</a>, Rome, Italy.
Physical Review Letters
|July 12, 2024
Summary
This study investigates spontaneous electromagnetic radiation from atomic systems undergoing dynamical wave-function collapse. We found radiation rates depend on atomic species and the specific collapse model, differing from prior assumptions of simple coherence or incoherence.
Area of Science:
- Atomic Physics
- Quantum Mechanics
- X-ray Spectroscopy
Background:
- Previous models assumed either perfectly coherent or incoherent spontaneous electromagnetic radiation.
- These models did not account for the nuances of dynamical wave-function collapse in atomic systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous electromagnetic radiation in the x-ray domain induced by dynamical wave-function collapse.
- To explore deviations from established models of radiation coherence.
- To determine the dependence of radiation rates on atomic species and collapse models.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical investigation of spontaneous electromagnetic radiation.
- Analysis of atomic systems undergoing dynamical wave-function collapse.
- Examination of emission properties in the low-energy x-ray regime.
Main Results:
- Observed strong departures from simple coherent (proton) or incoherent (electron) emission models.
- Demonstrated that spontaneous radiation rates are highly dependent on the specific atomic species.
- Established, for the first time, a dependence of radiation rates on the particular wave-function collapse model employed.
Conclusions:
- Dynamical wave-function collapse introduces complex behaviors in spontaneous electromagnetic radiation.
- The low-energy x-ray emission is sensitive to both atomic properties and the underlying collapse mechanism.
- This work necessitates a revision of existing models for spontaneous radiation in atomic systems.
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