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

Quantum mechanics to classical mechanics boundary: N-slit heavy-atom interferometer

F.J. Duarte

Published Aug 21, 2024• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition. Further, a more pragmatic highly indeterministic mechanism is also considered.

DOI
10.1364/opticaopen.26793619

Related papers

Quantum mechanics to classical mechanics boundary: N-slit heavy-atom interferometer

F.J. Duarte

The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition. Further, a more pragmatic highly indeterministic mechanism is also considered.

•Sep 2, 2024•0 citations

Quantum mechanics to classical mechanics boundary: N-slit heavy-atom interferometer

F.J. Duarte

The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition.

•Aug 21, 2024•0 citations

The Quantum-Classical Boundary

F. J. Duarte

The quantum-classical boundary remains a frontier of research and discovery. One area of attention revolves around Planck’s constant, h, a very small number indeed. In reference to the value of h, Feynman said that if h goes to 0: ‘the classical and quantum results would be the same, and there would be no quantum mechanics to learn!’ This certainly highlights the subtlety of quantum mechanics. Recently, small progress has been made in this field by using Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle to successfully transition from quantum mechanics to classical mechanics and derive Newton’s second law . However, the real question here is… when does quantum become classical? In this chapter we suggest that, regarding conglomerates of atoms, quantum becomes classical when indistinguishability is lost. In other words, when something that was indistinguishable… becomes distinguishable. A heavy atom interferometer experiment is suggested to elucidate this most fascinating unknown.

CRC Press eBooks•Apr 10, 2026•0 citations

Atom Interferometers: Beyond Complementarity Principles

Zhiyuan Li

Complementarity lies at the heart of conceptual foundation of orthodox quantum mechanics. The wave-particle duality makes it impossible to tell which slit each particle passes through and still observe an interference pattern in a Young's double-slit experiment. In this paper, this duality is appraised under the standard formulation of quantum mechanics for atom interferometers. It is found that the internal freedoms like electronic states of an atom can be used to detect the which-path information of each atom while uphold the interference pattern of atoms when the center-of-mass motion of atoms is detected.

arXiv:quant-ph/0109023•Sep 4, 2001•1 citation

N-slit interference and ‘the collapse of the wave function’

Francisco Duarte

It is explained that, in an N-slit experimental configuration the so called ‘collapse of the wave function’ is an unnecessary concept. The explanation begins going back to the original words of Heisenberg on the reduction of the wave packet and continues while considering the measurement process in an N-slit interferometer. In this regard, it is articulated that a clean and direct transition from the superposition probability amplitude to the probability distribution is all that is needed. The discussion includes measurable decoherence in the interferometric domain and the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis.

•Aug 4, 2026•0 citations

N-slit interference and ‘the collapse of the wave function’

Francisco Duarte

It is explained that, in an N-slit experimental configuration the so called ‘collapse of the wave function’ is an unnecessary concept. The explanation begins going back to the original words of Heisenberg on the reduction of the wave packet and continues while considering the measurement process in an N-slit interferometer. In this regard, it is articulated that a clean and direct transition from the superposition probability amplitude to the probability distribution is all that is needed. The discussion includes measurable decoherence in the interferometric domain and the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis.

•Jul 10, 2026•0 citations
The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition. Further, a more pragmatic highly indeterministic mechanism is also considered.
The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition. Further, a more pragmatic highly indeterministic mechanism is also considered.
The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition.
The quantum-classical boundary remains a frontier of research and discovery. One area of attention revolves around Planck’s constant, h, a very small number indeed. In reference to the value of h, Feynman said that if h goes to 0: ‘the classical and quantum results would be the same, and there would be no quantum mechanics to learn!’ This certainly highlights the subtlety of quantum mechanics. Recently, small progress has been made in this field by using Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle to successfully transition from quantum mechanics to classical mechanics and derive Newton’s second law . However, the real question here is… when does quantum become classical? In this chapter we suggest that, regarding conglomerates of atoms, quantum becomes classical when indistinguishability is lost. In other words, when something that was indistinguishable… becomes distinguishable. A heavy atom interferometer experiment is suggested to elucidate this most fascinating unknown.
Complementarity lies at the heart of conceptual foundation of orthodox quantum mechanics. The wave-particle duality makes it impossible to tell which slit each particle passes through and still observe an interference pattern in a Young's double-slit experiment. In this paper, this duality is appraised under the standard formulation of quantum mechanics for atom interferometers. It is found that the internal freedoms like electronic states of an atom can be used to detect the which-path information of each atom while uphold the interference pattern of atoms when the center-of-mass motion of atoms is detected.
It is explained that, in an N-slit experimental configuration the so called ‘collapse of the wave function’ is an unnecessary concept. The explanation begins going back to the original words of Heisenberg on the reduction of the wave packet and continues while considering the measurement process in an N-slit interferometer. In this regard, it is articulated that a clean and direct transition from the superposition probability amplitude to the probability distribution is all that is needed. The discussion includes measurable decoherence in the interferometric domain and the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis.
It is explained that, in an N-slit experimental configuration the so called ‘collapse of the wave function’ is an unnecessary concept. The explanation begins going back to the original words of Heisenberg on the reduction of the wave packet and continues while considering the measurement process in an N-slit interferometer. In this regard, it is articulated that a clean and direct transition from the superposition probability amplitude to the probability distribution is all that is needed. The discussion includes measurable decoherence in the interferometric domain and the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis.