Optomechanical Superposition Lifetimes: Thermal, Gas and Collapse Contributions Computed Side by Side

This paper places thermal, and collapse-model contributions to the decoherence of a nanomechanical superposition side by side under identical assumptions. For an oscillator of 1e-14 kilograms at ten millikelvin with quality factor 1e+08, the total lifetime is 7.638e-02 seconds; at four kelvin with quality factor 1e+06 it shortens to 1.910e-06 seconds. The collapse contribution alone is 1.497e-14 per second for the stated separation. Thermal decoherence dominates in both operating points, so an optomechanical test of collapse models must first win the thermal battle; the numbers show by how much. The study is simulated and computed from stated assumptions; it is not a measurement.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-11-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24145354
Primary Topic
Mechanical and Optical Resonators
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Optomechanical Superposition Lifetimes: Thermal, Gas and Collapse Contributions Computed Side by Side

William Alexander Aldred
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Mechanical and Optical Resonators
article

Optomechanical Superposition Lifetimes: Thermal, Gas and Collapse Contributions Computed Side by Side

William Alexander Aldred
article en

Abstract

This paper places thermal, and collapse-model contributions to the decoherence of a nanomechanical superposition side by side under identical assumptions. For an oscillator of 1e-14 kilograms at ten millikelvin with quality factor 1e+08, the total lifetime is 7.638e-02 seconds; at four kelvin with quality factor 1e+06 it shortens to 1.910e-06 seconds. The collapse contribution alone is 1.497e-14 per second for the stated separation. Thermal decoherence dominates in both operating points, so an optomechanical test of collapse models must first win the thermal battle; the numbers show by how much. The study is simulated and computed from stated assumptions; it is not a measurement.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Mechanical and Optical Resonators
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