title: Signatures for generalized macroscopic superpositions.
abstract: We develop criteria sufficient to enable detection of macroscopic coherence where there are not just two macroscopically distinct outcomes for a pointer measurement, but rather a spread of outcomes over a macroscopic range. The criteria provide a means to distinguish a macroscopic quantum description from a microscopic one based on mixtures of microscopic superpositions of pointer-measurement eigenstates. The criteria are applied to Gaussian-squeezed and spin-entangled states.
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Reid