Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1703.06796 · Journal of Physics Conference Series

Underground tests of quantum mechanics. Whispers in the cosmic silence?

Catalina Curceanu, Sergio Bartalucci, Angelo Bassi, M. Bazzi, S. Bertolucci, C. Berucci, A.M. Bragadireanu, M. Cargnelli, A. Clozza, Luca De Paolis, S. Di Matteo, Sandro Donadi, J.-P. Egger, C. Guaraldo, M. Iliescu, Matthias Laubenstein, Johann Marton, E. Milotti, Andreas Pichler, Dorel Pietreanu, Kristian Piscicchia, A. Scordo, Hexi Shi, D. L. Sirghi, Florin Catalin Sirghi, Luciano Sperandio, O. Vázquez Doce, Johann Zmeskal

Published Aug 1, 2017• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

By performing X-rays measurements in the "cosmic silence" of the underground laboratory of Gran Sasso, LNGS-INFN, we test a basic principle of quantum mechanics: the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP), for electrons. We present the achieved results of the VIP experiment and the ongoing VIP2 measurement aiming to gain two orders of magnitude improvement in testing PEP. We also use a similar experimental technique to search for radiation (X and gamma) predicted by continuous spontaneous localization models, which aim to solve the "measurement problem".

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/880/1/012045

Related papers

Quantum mechanics under X-rays in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory

Catalina Curceanu, Diana Laura Sirghi, Florin Catalin Sirghi +25 more

By performing X-ray measurements in the “cosmic silence” of the underground laboratory of Gran Sasso, LNGS-INFN, we test a basic principle of quantum mechanics: the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) for electrons. We present the achieved results of the VIP experiment and the ongoing VIP2 measurement aiming to gain two orders of magnitude improvement in testing PEP. X-ray emission can also be used to put strong constraints on the parameters of the Continuous Spontaneous Localization Model, which was introduced as a possible solution to the measurement problem in Quantum Mechanics. A Bayesian analysis of the data collected by IGEX will be presented, which allows to exclude a broad region of the parameter space which characterizes this model.

International Journal of Quantum Information•Dec 1, 2017•2 citations

The X-ray machine for the examination of quantum mechanics

Catalina Curceanu, Sergio Bartalucci, Angelo Bassi +27 more

By performing X-rays measurements in the underground laboratory of Gran Sasso, LNGS-INFN, we test a basic principle of quantum mechanics: the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP). In the future, we aim to use a similar experimental technique to search for X-rays as a signature of the spontaneous collapse of the wave function predicted by continuous spontaneous localization theories. We present the achieved results of the VIP experiment and the future plans to gain two orders of magnitude in testing PEP with the recently VIP2 setup installed at Gran Sasso.

International Journal of Quantum Information•May 19, 2016•3 citations

High Sensitivity Quantum Mechanics Tests in the Cosmic Silence

Kristian Piscicchia, Andreas Pichler, Aidin Amirkhani +25 more

The VIP experiment aims to perform high-precision tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons in the extremely low cosmic background environment of the Underground Gran Sasso Laboratories of INFN (Italy). The experimental technique consists in introducing a DC current in a copper conductor, searching for Kα PEP-forbidden atomic transitions when the K shell is already occupied by two electrons. The results of a preliminary data analysis, corresponding to the first run of the VIP-2 data taking (2016–2017), are presented. The experimental setup in the final configuration is described together with preliminary spectra from the 2019 data-taking campaign.

Acta Physica Polonica B Proceedings Supplement•Nov 18, 2020•0 citations

Testing Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons at the LNGS underground laboratory: The VIP-2 experiment

Luca De Paolis, Fabrizio Napolitano, Kristian Piscicchia +22 more

The VIP-2 experiment tests the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) for electrons at the Gran Sasso underground National Laboratory (LNGS) of INFN in Italy, looking for a possible violation. The LNGS provide an extremely low background environment, ideal for performing high precision X-ray spectroscopy measurements on electrons atomic transitions. The core of the VIP-2 experimental apparatus is based on a copper target circulated by a Direct Current (DC) and surrounded by silicon drift detectors (SDDs), which offer excellent performance in X-ray spectroscopy in the energy range experimentally observed by VIP-2. The aim of VIP-2 is to look for eventual PEP-forbidden K$\alpha$ transitions (2p $\rightarrow$ 1s) in copper atoms, when the 1s level would be already occupied by two electrons, in contradiction with PEP. The energy of the K$\alpha$ forbidden transitions is about 300 eV less than the nominal energy of the K$\alpha$ PEP-allowed transition. This energy shift is due to the screening effect produced by the extra electron in fundamental level, and is detectable by means of a high precision X-ray spectroscopy measurement. About ten years ago, the VIP experiment set the best upper limit on the PEP violation probability $\beta^2/2<$4.7$~\times~10^{-29}$ for electrons. The goal of the VIP-2 experiment is to improve this limit by two orders of magnitude. This paper presents a new preliminary result, obtained by analysing two sets of data collected with a partial configuration of the VIP-2 apparatus.

Particles and Nuclei International Conference (PANIC)•Mar 2, 2022•0 citations

Testing the Pauli Exclusion Principle for Electrons

Johann Marton, Sergio Bartalucci, S. Bertolucci +22 more

One of the fundamental rules of nature and a pillar in the foundation of quantum theory and thus of modern physics is represented by the Pauli Exclusion Principle. We know that this principle is extremely well fulfilled due to many observations. Numerous experiments were performed to search for tiny violation of this rule in various systems. The experiment VIP at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory is searching for possible small violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons leading to forbidden X-ray transitions in copper atoms. VIP is aiming at a test of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons with high accuracy, down to the level of 10 −29 – 10 −30 , thus improving the previous limit by 3–4 orders of magnitude. The experimental method, results obtained so far and new developments within VIP2 (follow-up experiment at Gran Sasso, in preparation) to further increase the precision by 2 orders of magnitude will be presented.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Jul 24, 2013•15 citations

VIP-2 at LNGS: An experiment on the validity of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons

Johann Marton, Sergio Bartalucci, Angelo Bassi +26 more

We are experimentally investigating possible violations of standard quantum mechanics predictions in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy. We test with high precision the Pauli Exclusion Principle and the collapse of the wave function (collapse models). We present our method of searching for possible small violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) for electrons, through the search for "anomalous" X-ray transitions in copper atoms. These transitions are produced by "new" electrons (brought inside the copper bar by circulating current) which can have the possibility to undergo Pauli-forbidden transition to the 1s level already occupied by two electrons. We describe the VIP2 (VIolation of the Pauli Exclusion Principle) experimental data taking at the Gran Sasso underground laboratories. The goal of VIP2 is to test the PEP for electrons in agreement with the Messiah-Greenberg superselection rule with unprecedented accuracy, down to a limit in the probability that PEP is violated at the level of 10 −31 . We show preliminary experimental results and discuss implications of a possible violation.

arXiv:1703.01615•Journal of Physics Conference Series•Jul 1, 2017•2 citations
By performing X-rays measurements in the "cosmic silence" of the underground laboratory of Gran Sasso, LNGS-INFN, we test a basic principle of quantum mechanics: the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP), for electrons. We present the achieved results of the VIP experiment and the ongoing VIP2 measurement aiming to gain two orders of magnitude improvement in testing PEP. We also use a similar experimental technique to search for radiation (X and gamma) predicted by continuous spontaneous localization models, which aim to solve the "measurement problem".
By performing X-ray measurements in the “cosmic silence” of the underground laboratory of Gran Sasso, LNGS-INFN, we test a basic principle of quantum mechanics: the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) for electrons. We present the achieved results of the VIP experiment and the ongoing VIP2 measurement aiming to gain two orders of magnitude improvement in testing PEP. X-ray emission can also be used to put strong constraints on the parameters of the Continuous Spontaneous Localization Model, which was introduced as a possible solution to the measurement problem in Quantum Mechanics. A Bayesian analysis of the data collected by IGEX will be presented, which allows to exclude a broad region of the parameter space which characterizes this model.
By performing X-rays measurements in the underground laboratory of Gran Sasso, LNGS-INFN, we test a basic principle of quantum mechanics: the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP). In the future, we aim to use a similar experimental technique to search for X-rays as a signature of the spontaneous collapse of the wave function predicted by continuous spontaneous localization theories. We present the achieved results of the VIP experiment and the future plans to gain two orders of magnitude in testing PEP with the recently VIP2 setup installed at Gran Sasso.
The VIP experiment aims to perform high-precision tests of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons in the extremely low cosmic background environment of the Underground Gran Sasso Laboratories of INFN (Italy). The experimental technique consists in introducing a DC current in a copper conductor, searching for Kα PEP-forbidden atomic transitions when the K shell is already occupied by two electrons. The results of a preliminary data analysis, corresponding to the first run of the VIP-2 data taking (2016–2017), are presented. The experimental setup in the final configuration is described together with preliminary spectra from the 2019 data-taking campaign.
The VIP-2 experiment tests the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) for electrons at the Gran Sasso underground National Laboratory (LNGS) of INFN in Italy, looking for a possible violation. The LNGS provide an extremely low background environment, ideal for performing high precision X-ray spectroscopy measurements on electrons atomic transitions. The core of the VIP-2 experimental apparatus is based on a copper target circulated by a Direct Current (DC) and surrounded by silicon drift detectors (SDDs), which offer excellent performance in X-ray spectroscopy in the energy range experimentally observed by VIP-2. The aim of VIP-2 is to look for eventual PEP-forbidden Kα\alphaα transitions (2p →\rightarrow→ 1s) in copper atoms, when the 1s level would be already occupied by two electrons, in contradiction with PEP. The energy of the Kα\alphaα forbidden transitions is about 300 eV less than the nominal energy of the Kα\alphaα PEP-allowed transition. This energy shift is due to the screening effect produced by the extra electron in fundamental level, and is detectable by means of a high precision X-ray spectroscopy measurement. About ten years ago, the VIP experiment set the best upper limit on the PEP violation probability $\beta^2/2<4.74.74.7~\times~10^{-29}$ for electrons. The goal of the VIP-2 experiment is to improve this limit by two orders of magnitude. This paper presents a new preliminary result, obtained by analysing two sets of data collected with a partial configuration of the VIP-2 apparatus.
One of the fundamental rules of nature and a pillar in the foundation of quantum theory and thus of modern physics is represented by the Pauli Exclusion Principle. We know that this principle is extremely well fulfilled due to many observations. Numerous experiments were performed to search for tiny violation of this rule in various systems. The experiment VIP at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory is searching for possible small violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons leading to forbidden X-ray transitions in copper atoms. VIP is aiming at a test of the Pauli Exclusion Principle for electrons with high accuracy, down to the level of 10 −29 – 10 −30 , thus improving the previous limit by 3–4 orders of magnitude. The experimental method, results obtained so far and new developments within VIP2 (follow-up experiment at Gran Sasso, in preparation) to further increase the precision by 2 orders of magnitude will be presented.
We are experimentally investigating possible violations of standard quantum mechanics predictions in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy. We test with high precision the Pauli Exclusion Principle and the collapse of the wave function (collapse models). We present our method of searching for possible small violations of the Pauli Exclusion Principle (PEP) for electrons, through the search for "anomalous" X-ray transitions in copper atoms. These transitions are produced by "new" electrons (brought inside the copper bar by circulating current) which can have the possibility to undergo Pauli-forbidden transition to the 1s level already occupied by two electrons. We describe the VIP2 (VIolation of the Pauli Exclusion Principle) experimental data taking at the Gran Sasso underground laboratories. The goal of VIP2 is to test the PEP for electrons in agreement with the Messiah-Greenberg superselection rule with unprecedented accuracy, down to a limit in the probability that PEP is violated at the level of 10 −31 . We show preliminary experimental results and discuss implications of a possible violation.