DISSIPATION AND REDUCTION EFFECTS OF SPONTANEOUS LOCALIZATION ON SUPERCONDUCTING STATES

The problem of quantum measurement is briefly recalled with particular reference to theories of reduction as a real physical process. The sp ontaneous localization models for systems containing identical particl es are described and the choice of the model when several kinds of par ticles are present is discussed. Dissipation and reduction effects ind uced by spontaneous localization in superconducting systems are analyz ed. It is found that dissipation effects are negligibly small; on the other hand, reduction effects are present, but their characteristic ti me is long, say of the order of one hour. It follows that testing redu ction experimentally is far beyond present day technology.