PROPOSED TEST FOR REALIST THEORIES USING RYDBERG ATOMS COUPLED TO A HIGH-Q RESONATOR

From the hypotheses of realism and stationarity, the latter related to the Leggett-Garg assumption of noninvasive measurability, we derive i nequalities, involving three autocorrelation functions, to be fulfille d by any two-state stochastic process. We seek to test a broad class o f realist theories against quantum mechanics for a system consisting o f a Rydberg atom interacting with a single quantized mode in a superco nducting resonant cavity. Departures from quantum predictions are enha nced when the temperature is decreased to about 0.5 K and the state of the cavity approximates a Fock state.