A conceptual analysis of quantum zeno; paradox, measurement, and experiment
- Department of Physics, Bose Institute, Calcutta 700009 (India)
- Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Queens University, Belfast BT7 INN (Northern Ireland)
Arguments on controversial points concerning quantum measurement theory and the quantum Zeno effect are presented. In particular it is argued that (1) the quantum Zeno effect is a genuine result of quantum theory and current quantum measurement theory, independent of the projection postulate; (2) the effect is of very general nature and rests on analogous arguments to those involved in Bell{close_quote}s theories; (3) the term {open_quotes}quantum Zeno effect{close_quotes} may usefully be restricted to experiments where a measuring device exerts a nonlocal negative-result effect on a microscopic system, mere inhibition of a transition by a directly interacting device not qualifying; (4) since no decay is truly exponential, theoretically all decay phenomena should exhibit the quantum Zeno effect under observation, continuous or discrete. A detailed study is made of the experiments claiming to demonstrate the effect; it is found that they do not meet our criterion above. {copyright} 1997 Academic Press, Inc.
- OSTI ID:
- 542111
- Journal Information:
- Annals of Physics (New York), Journal Name: Annals of Physics (New York) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 258; ISSN APNYA6; ISSN 0003-4916
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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