https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530050059
Quantum Zenon effects in composite systems
Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart,
Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany
Corresponding author: a mahler@theo.physik.uni-stuttgart.de
Received:
15
April
1997
Revised:
25
June
1997
Accepted:
18
October
1997
Published online: 15 January 1998
Quantum Zenon effects are discussed in terms of a specific class of quantum trajectories, which are conditioned by continuous, mutually exclusive measurement signals. Such a conditioning is not restricted to simple systems but can be generalized to composite networks. In any case, the characteristic features of these trajectories tend to be washed out in the ensemble limit and thus require single system analysis. Only on a sufficiently small time-scale and for a coherent initial state, also the ensemble exhibits some Zenon effect. In this case, ironically, actual measurements are not required: a closed single composite system can emulate this behavior. Such a kind of quantum parallelism underlies also recent proposals for quantum computation.
PACS: 42.50.Lc – Quantum fluctuations, quantum noise, and quantum jumps / 42.25.Kb – Coherence
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1998
