English

Magnetic noise in macroscopic quantum spatial superposition

Quantum Physics 2025-08-26 v3

Abstract

In this paper, we will show how random fluctuations in the magnetic field will jitter the paths of a matter-wave interferometer randomly, hence, decohere the quantum superposition. To create a large spatial superposition with nanoparticles, we envisage embedding a spin in a nanoparticle as a defect and applying an inhomogeneous magnetic field as in a Stern-Gerlach type experiment to create a macroscopic quantum superposition. Such matter-wave interferometers are the cornerstone for many new fundamental advancements in physics; particularly, adjacent matter-wave interferometers can use entanglement features to test physics beyond the Standard Model, test the equivalence principle, improve quantum sensors, and test the quantum nature of spacetime in a lab. In particular, we will use white and flicker noise to study the decoherence and constrain the parameters keeping in mind ambient temperatures suitable for superconducting wires embedded on a chip. We will show that to obtain a tiny spatial superposition of a nanometer separation, ΔxO(109)\Delta x \sim {\cal O} (10^{-9})m and to minimize decoherence, ΓO(ω02π)\Gamma\leq {\cal O}(\frac{\omega_0}{2\pi}), where Γ\Gamma is the decoherence and ω0\omega_0 is the frequency of the oscillator, we will need current fluctuations to be δI/IO(108)\delta I/I\leq {\cal O}(10^{-8}), which is not impossible to obtain in superconducting wire arrangements. For such tiny fluctuations, we demonstrate that the Humpty-Dumpty problem in a matter-wave interferometer arising from a mismatch in position and momentum does not cause a loss in contrast.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2504.13252,
  title  = {Magnetic noise in macroscopic quantum spatial superposition},
  author = {Sneha Narasimha Moorthy and Andrew Geraci and Sougato Bose and Anupam Mazumdar},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.13252},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

18 pages, 8 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-28T23:02:33.914Z