Experimental tests of alternate postulates to describe excited-state decay in DeWitt-like and Everett-like versions of quantum mechanics

Abstract

Simulations of the observed transition rate (decay rate) versus time for excited-state decay in Everett's relative-state formulation of quantum mechanics and DeWitt-like extension of Everett's formulation are described. It is shown that Everett's formalism is not general enough to describe excited-state decay, and that tritium lifetime measurements rule out all plausible DeWitt-like extensions. Furthermore, comparison of lifetime measurements and first-principles calculations of excited electronic states of simple atoms limit Everett-like extensions to a small effect for these atoms.