Quantum Jump Experiments

Axel Schenzle

Richard J Cook

This paper answers the title question by giving an operational definition of quantum jumps based on measurement theory. This definition forms the basis of a theory of quantum jumps which leads to a number of testable predictions. Experiments are proposed to test the theory. The suggested experiments also test the quantum Zeno paradox, i.e., they test the proposition that frequent observation of a quantum system inhibits quantum jumps in that system.

John Maddox

George S. Greenstein, Arthur Zajonc

Shelved atom experiments appear to show clear evidence for quantum jumps. We use a gedanken interference experiment to demonstrate that a fundamental temporal ambiguity in the photon time-of-emission occurs in such transitions.

Arthur A. Broyles

Recent experiments have found abrupt changes in the intensity of laser light scattered off single ions and atoms. These abrupt changes have been interpreted as resulting from Bohr's ``quantum jumps'' of the ion or atom from one state to another. In Bohr's description, such quantum jumps are not predicted by the Schr\"odinger equation and are introduced by additional postulates into quantum theory. We consider here an alternative explanation of these experiments using only properties of solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation and avoiding Bohr's added postulate.