Testing collapse models with levitated nanoparticles: Detection challenge

A. Vinante, A. Pontin, M. Rashid, M. Toroš, P. F. Barker, and H. Ulbricht

We consider a nanoparticle levitated in a Paul trap in ultrahigh cryogenic vacuum, and look for the conditions which allow for a stringent noninterferometric test of spontaneous collapse models. In particular we compare different possible techniques to detect the particle motion. Key conditions which need to be achieved are extremely low residual pressure and the ability to detect the particle at ultralow power. We compare three different detection approaches based, respectively, on an optical cavity, an optical tweezer, and an electrical readout, and for each one we assess advantages, drawbacks, and technical challenges.

DOI