Controlling Interference Visibility via Non-Equilibrium Energy Allocation: A testable prediction from energy-efficiency theory

The double-slit experiment is the quintessential demonstration of wave-particle duality. In standard quantum mechanics, interference visibility v = (Imax − Imin)/(Imax + Imin) is unity for a perfectly coherent, isolated source. Any reduction is attributed to decoherence caused by environmental coupling. Here we propose an additional, intrinsic mechanism for visibility reduction that originates from the internal energy allocation of the quantum system itself, without requiring any loss of coherence. Energy-efficiency theory (EET) posits that any persistent localized system continuously allocates incoming energy between two competing channels: maintenance (E˙ main) that sustains the existing localized structure, and response (E˙ resp) that explores configuration space. Their ratio η = E˙ resp/E˙ main defines a dynamical regime. Standard quantum mechanics corresponds to the balanced equilibrium case η = 1. By externally driving the system, η can be tuned away from unity, leading to modified wavepacket spreading and, consequently, a reduced interference visibility even in the absence of decoherence. This paper presents a precise quantitative prediction for v(η), a feasible experimental realization using ultracold atoms in optical lattices, and a rigorous statistical protocol for falsification. The prediction is independent of any free parameters and can be tested with existing technology.