Schrodinger Tigers on the loose

PRL 107, 020405 (2011)
PHYSICAL    REVIEW    LETTERS    week ending 8 JULY 2011
Large Quantum Superpositions and Interference of Massive Nanometer-Sized Objects
O. Romero-Isart,1 A. C. Pflanzer,1 F. Blaser,2 R. Kaltenbaek,2 N. Kiesel,2 M. Aspelmeyer,2 and J. I. Cirac1
1Max-Planck-Institut fu ?r Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, D-85748, Garching, Germany 2Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria (Received 21 March 2011; published 7 July 2011)

We propose a method to prepare and verify spatial quantum superpositions of a nanometer-sized object separated by distances of the order of its size. This method provides unprecedented bounds for objective collapse models of the wave function by merging techniques and insights from cavity quantum optomechanics and matter-wave interferometry. An analysis and simulation of the experiment is performed taking into account standard sources of decoherence. We provide an operational parameter regime using present-day and planned technology.