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arXiv:1103.2526

Continuous Observations and the Wave Function Collapse

Avi Marchewka, Z. Schuss

Published Mar 13, 2011• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose to modify the collapse axiom of quantum measurement theory by replacing the instantaneous with a continuous collapse of the wave function in finite time $τ$. We apply it to coordinate measurement of a free quantum particle that is initially confined to a domain $D\subset\rR^d$ and is observed continuously by illuminating $\rR^d-D$. The continuous collapse axiom (CCA) defines the post-measurement wave function (PMWF)in $D$ after a negative measurement as the solution of Schrödinger's equation at time $τ$ with instantaneously collapsed initial condition and homogeneous Dirichlet condition on the boundary of $D$. The CCA applies to all cases that exhibit the Zeno effect. It rids quantum mechanics of the unphysical artifacts caused by instantaneous collapse and introduces no new artifacts.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1103.2526

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The quantum Zeno effect is not a general characteristic of continuous measurements. In a recently reported experiment [Itano et al., Phys. Rev. A 41, 2295 (1990)], the inhibition of atomic excitation and deexcitation is not due to any ``collapse of the wave function,'' but instead is caused by a very strong perturbation due to the optical pulses and the coupling to the radiation field. The experiment should not be cited as providing empirical evidence in favor of the notion of ``wave-function collapse.''

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We propose to modify the collapse axiom of quantum measurement theory by replacing the instantaneous with a continuous collapse of the wave function in finite time τττ. We apply it to coordinate measurement of a free quantum particle that is initially confined to a domain D⊂\rRdD\subset\rR^dD⊂\rRd and is observed continuously by illuminating \rRd−D\rR^d-D\rRd−D. The continuous collapse axiom (CCA) defines the post-measurement wave function (PMWF)in DDD after a negative measurement as the solution of Schrödinger's equation at time τττ with instantaneously collapsed initial condition and homogeneous Dirichlet condition on the boundary of DDD. The CCA applies to all cases that exhibit the Zeno effect. It rids quantum mechanics of the unphysical artifacts caused by instantaneous collapse and introduces no new artifacts.
This is the first single volume about the collapse theories of quantum mechanics, which is becoming a very active field of research in both physics and philosophy. In standard quantum mechanics, it is postulated that when the wave function of a quantum system is measured, it no longer follows the Schrödinger equation, but instantaneously and randomly collapses to one of the wave functions that correspond to definite measurement results. However, why and how a definite measurement result appears is unknown. A promising solution to this problem are collapse theories in which the collapse of the wave function is spontaneous and dynamical. Chapters written by distinguished physicists and philosophers of physics discuss the origin and implications of wave-function collapse, the controversies around collapse models and their ontologies, and new arguments for the reality of wave function collapse. This is an invaluable resource for students and researchers interested in the philosophy of physics and foundations of quantum mechanics.
Background and Objectives: There are a few different ways to change the quantum mechanical wave function. One is the continuous evolution according to the Schrodinger equation; the others are the collapse provided by strong measurements and the weak continuous measurement. The question arises: Can the strong measurement be considered as a dynamical process. Methods: To answer the question, a dynamic model is proposed to simulate numerically the measurement of the coordinates of quantum particles. By measuring the coordinate, we mean the capture of a particle in a narrow box and the excitation of the stationary wave function in it. We consider the amplitude of the probability of transition to a stationary state as a wave function, and the non-stationary Schrodinger equation is solved using this initial function. The transition to a stationary state was modeled as a gated process. Results and Conclusion: It is shown that when measuring coordinates, along with the instant collapse, there are cases when the measurement takes a short but finite time. In particular, the projective measurement of the coordinate of one of the entangled particles takes some time and is accompanied by the correlation in the probability density of the particles coordinates. Moreover, the correlation is lost over time.
It is demonstrated that the collapse of the wave function is equivalent to the continuity of measurement outcomes. The latter states that a second measurement has to result in the same outcome as the first measurement of the same observable for a vanishing time between both observations. In contrast to the exclusively quantum-physical collapse description, the equivalent continuity requirement also applies in classical physics, allowing for a comparison of both domains. In particular, it is found that quantum coherences are the single cause for measurable deviations in statistical properties due to the collapse. Therefore, the introduced approach renders it possible to characterize and quantify the unique features of the quantum-physical measurement problem within the framework of modern quantum resource theories and compare them to classical physics.
The influence of continuous measurements of energy with finite accuracy is studied in various quantum systems through a restriction of the Feynman path integrals around the measurement result. The method, which is equivalent to considering an effective Schr\"odinger equation with a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, allows one to study the dynamics of the wave-function collapse. A numerical algorithm for solving the effective Schr\"odinger equation is developed and checked in the case of a harmonic oscillator. The situations, of physical interest, of a two-level system and of a metastable quantum well are then discussed. In the first case, the Zeno inhibition observed in quantum optics experiments is recovered and extended to nonresonant transitions, and in the second case we propose an observation of the inhibition of spontaneous decay in mesoscopic heterostructures. In all the considered examples, the effect of the continuous measurement of energy is a freezing of the evolution of the system proportional to the accuracy of the measurement itself.
The quantum Zeno effect is not a general characteristic of continuous measurements. In a recently reported experiment [Itano et al., Phys. Rev. A 41, 2295 (1990)], the inhibition of atomic excitation and deexcitation is not due to any ``collapse of the wave function,'' but instead is caused by a very strong perturbation due to the optical pulses and the coupling to the radiation field. The experiment should not be cited as providing empirical evidence in favor of the notion of ``wave-function collapse.''