Present status and future challenges of non-interferometric tests of collapse models

Understand

The superposition principle is the cornerstone of quantum mechanics, leading to a variety of genuinely quantum effects.

• Whether the principle applies also to macroscopic systems or, instead, there is a progressive breakdown when moving to larger scales, is a fundamental and still open question.
• Spontaneous wavefunction collapse models predict the latter option, thus questioning the universality of quantum mechanics.
• Technological advances allow to challenge collapse models and the quantum superposition principle more and more with a variety of different experiments.