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

Year: 2026

Type: article

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.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.24145354

Author: Aldred, William Alexander

Language: English

Topic: Mechanical and Optical Resonators

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7225777602

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