Experimental Test of Macroscopic Realism Problem Using a Superconducting Flux Qubit

Kosuke Kakuyanagi, George C. Knee, Mao-Chuang Yeh +6 more

Bo Mao, Wei Qiu, Siyuan Han

Jianxin Shi

George C. Knee, Kosuke Kakuyanagi, Mao-Chuang Yeh +6 more

Macroscopic realism is the name for a class of modifications to quantum theory that allow macroscopic objects to be described in a measurement-independent manner, while largely preserving a fully quantum mechanical description of the microscopic world. Objective collapse theories are examples which aim to solve the quantum measurement problem through modified dynamical laws. Whether such theories describe nature, however, is not known. Here we describe and implement an experimental protocol capable of constraining theories of this class, that is more noise tolerant and conceptually transparent than the original Leggett-Garg test. We implement the protocol in a superconducting flux qubit, and rule out (by ∼84 s.d.) those theories which would deny coherent superpositions of 170 nA currents over a ∼10 ns timescale. Further, we address the 'clumsiness loophole' by determining classical disturbance with control experiments. Our results constitute strong evidence for the superposition of states of nontrivial macroscopic distinctness.

Thomas Picot

А. В. Никулов

The confidence of many authors in the possibility to use superconducting loop interrupted by Josephson junctions as a basis for quantum bit, flux qubit, presumes the assumption on superposition of two macroscopically distinct quantum states with macroscopically different angular momentum. The contradiction of this assumption with macroscopic realism and the conservation law must call the numerous publications about flux qubit in question. These publications uncover misunderstanding by many modern physicists of the essence of the superposition principle. The Einstein - Podolsky - Rosen (EPR) correlation or entanglement, introduced in 1935 by opponents of the Copenhagen interpretation in order to reveal the contradiction of this principle with realism, has provided a basis of the idea of quantum computation. The problem of the EPR correlation has emerged thanks to philosophical controversy between the creators of the quantum theory about the subject of its description. Therefore it is impossible to solve correctly the problem of quantum computer creation without the insight into the essence of this philosophical controversy. The total neglect of the philosophical problems of quantum foundation results to concrete mistakes, the example of which are the publications about flux qubit. In order to prevent such mistakes in the future the philosophical questions about the essence of superposition and entanglement and about the subject of quantum description are considered.