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Universe

Testing Quantum Mechanics with an Ultra-Cold Particle Trap

Peter J. Riggs

Published Mar 23, 2021• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

It is possible to empirically discriminate between the predictions of orthodox (i.e., Copenhagen) quantum theory and the de Broglie−Bohm theory of quantum mechanics. A practical experiment is proposed in which a single, laser-cooled ion inside an ultra-cold particle trap is either found to be near the trap’s walls or not. Detections of the former kind would support the prediction of orthodox quantum theory and of the latter kind would support the de Broglie−Bohm theory. The outcome of this experiment would show which theory gives the more correct description and, consequently, would have far-reaching implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics.

DOI
10.3390/universe7040077

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It is possible to empirically discriminate between the predictions of orthodox (i.e., Copenhagen) quantum theory and the de Broglie−Bohm theory of quantum mechanics. A practical experiment is proposed in which a single, laser-cooled ion inside an ultra-cold particle trap is either found to be near the trap’s walls or not. Detections of the former kind would support the prediction of orthodox quantum theory and of the latter kind would support the de Broglie−Bohm theory. The outcome of this experiment would show which theory gives the more correct description and, consequently, would have far-reaching implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics.
It may be possible to empirically discriminate between the predictions of Orthodox Quantum Theory and the deBroglie-Bohm Theory of Quantum Mechanics. An experiment using the measurement methods of Atom Optics is suggested in which an atom trap having evanescent light mirrors in front of each of its walls is used to determine whether trapped atoms are in motion inside the trap. An absence of detected motion would be contrary to the prediction of Orthodox Quantum Theory and would support the deBroglie-Bohm Theory.
In a recent paper, Brida et al (2002 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35 4751) reported the first experimental realization for testing of de Broglie–Bohm (dBB) theory against standard quantum mechanics (SQM), based on a suggested scheme presented in Golshani and Akhavan (2001 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 34 5259). However, some details of their experiment are not compatible with our suggestion. Therefore, their conclusion, in which the experimental data are in complete agreement with SQM but show some deviations from dBB predictions, cannot be considered as a final verdict.
Quoting James Cushing (1994): '... most will never have heard of Bohm's theory. Those who have are certain it must be wrong, although they are not sure exactly why...Those few who still remain to listen to a description of Bohm's theory are usually surprised when they learn that they can, if they wish, consistently believe in actual particle trajectories in a space-time background.'In this talk we present the main features of the de Broglie-Bohm quantum mechanics from a perspective where it could provide a path to new physics, where the orthodox approach to quantum mechanics would be an effective description of a more fundamental underlying theory.