title: Probing macroscopic realism via Ramsey correlation measurements.
abstract: We describe a new and experimentally feasible protocol for performing fundamental tests of quantum mechanics with massive objects. In our approach, a single two-level system is used to probe the motion of a nanomechanical resonator via multiple Ramsey interference measurements. This scheme enables the measurement of modular variables of macroscopic continuous-variable systems; we show that correlations thereof violate a Leggett-Garg inequality and can be applied for tests of quantum contextuality. Our method can be implemented with a variety of different solid-state or photonic qubit-resonator systems, and it provides a clear experimental signature to distinguish the predictions of quantum mechanics from those of other alternative theories at a macroscopic scale.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Subatomic Physics, TU Wien, Stadionallee 2, 1020 Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asadian
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria and Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Boltzmanngasse 3, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brukner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Atomic and Subatomic Physics, TU Wien, Stadionallee 2, 1020 Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rabl