How fast is the wave function collapse?

Abstract

Using complex quantum Hamilton-Jacobi formulation, a new kind of non-linear equations is proposed that have almost classical structure and extend the Schrödinger equation to describe the collapse of the wave function as a finite-time process. Experimental bounds on the collapse time are of order 0.1 ms to 0.1 ps and the areas where sensitive probes of the possible collapse dynamics can be done include Bose-Einstein condensates, ultracold neutrons or ultrafast optics. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.