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Physical Review A

Quantum measurement and the transformation from quantum to classical probabilities

Heinz‐Peter Breuer, Francesco Petruccione

Published Aug 1, 1996• 18 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A specific model of quantum measurement [D. F. Walls, M. J. Collet, and G. J. Milburn, Phys. Rev. D 32, 3208 (1985)] based on a generic system-meter-environment measurement scheme is investigated in terms of probability distributions on projective Hilbert space. Starting from the unitary evolution of the total system a stochastic process for the wave function of the reduced system-meter system is derived by elimination of the degrees of freedom of the environment. The stochastic process is interpreted in terms of the direct detection of the photoelectrons created by the meter quanta in the environment. Two general variances are introduced which represent, respectively, the average intrinsic quantum fluctuations and the statistical fluctuations of the quantum expectation of the measured observable. Involving fourth moments of the wave function, these variances allow to monitor the transformation from quantum to classical probabilities during the process of measurement. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.54.1146

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A specific model of quantum measurement [D. F. Walls, M. J. Collet, and G. J. Milburn, Phys. Rev. D 32, 3208 (1985)] based on a generic system-meter-environment measurement scheme is investigated in terms of probability distributions on projective Hilbert space. Starting from the unitary evolution of the total system a stochastic process for the wave function of the reduced system-meter system is derived by elimination of the degrees of freedom of the environment. The stochastic process is interpreted in terms of the direct detection of the photoelectrons created by the meter quanta in the environment. Two general variances are introduced which represent, respectively, the average intrinsic quantum fluctuations and the statistical fluctuations of the quantum expectation of the measured observable. Involving fourth moments of the wave function, these variances allow to monitor the transformation from quantum to classical probabilities during the process of measurement. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
A specific measurement model based on quantum nondemolition monitoring of oscillator quanta is used to illustrate the essential elements of the quantum theory of measurement, viz., state reduction and existence of a ``pointer basis,'' recently discussed by Zurek. The form of the interaction between the meter and its environment determines the system observable recorded by the meter. In our model this quantity is the square of the oscillator's quanta. The corresponding pointer basis states are the meter coherent states. The more accurate the measurement the more excited (and classical) these states become. We show explicitly that the state reduction of the system during measurement is due to nonunitary evolution resulting from the meter-environment coupling. A particular realization of the environment as a photoelectron counter is discussed.
The exact statistics of an arbitrary measuring observable, describing specific features of an open quantum system, is analytically obtained. Due to the probabilistic nature of a sequence of intermediate measurements and stochastic fluctuations induced by the interaction with an external environment, the measurement outcomes at the end of the system evolution are random variables. Here, we provide the exact large deviation form of their probability distribution, given by an exponentially decaying profile in the number of measurements. The most probable distribution of the measurement outcomes in a single realization of the system transformation is then derived, thus achieving predictions beyond the expectation value.
Employing a formulation of quantum statistical ensembles in terms of classical probability distributions on projective Hilbert space, it is shown that the wave function of an open quantum system represents a stochastic process. The stochastic dynamics of the state vector is obtained from a microscopic system-plus-reservoir model by deriving within the Markov approximation the differential Chapman-Kolmogorov equation for the classical distribution of the reduced system. The realizations of the stochastic process are found to be similar to those of the Monte Carlo wave function simulation method proposed, in general form, by Zoller et al. [Phys. Rev. A 46, 4363 (1992)].
Both classical and respectively quantum observables can be modeled as somewhat similar examples of random variables. In such a model the associated measurements preserve the values spectrum of an observable but change the corresponding probabilistic weights (probability density or respectively the wave function). Such a model ensures theoretical estimations for predicted errors specific to the mean values as well as to the fluctuations of both types of observables. The model stands out of ourdays prevalent opinion that measurement theories must be depicted in entirely different manners in the classical respectively quantum cases.
It is proposed a possible new approach of quantum measurements (QMS), disconnected of the traditional interpretation of uncertainty relations and independent of any appeal to the strange idea of collapse (reduction) of wave functions. The new approach regards QMS as a statistical samplings (but not as simple detection acts) and their description as a distinct task, independent of actual procedures of quantum mechanics. A QMS is described by means of transformations of probability density and probability current, from intrinsic into recorded readings. The quantum observables appear as random variables, described by usual operators and valuable through probabilistic numerical parameters (mean values, correlations and standard deviations). The values of the respective parameters are not the same in the two mentioned readings. Then the measurement uncertainties (errors) are described by means of the changes in the alluded values. The new QMS approach is illustrated through an one-dimensional example.
The stochastic dynamics of open quantum systems interacting with a zero temperature environment is investigated by employing a formulation of quantum statistical ensembles in terms of probability distributions on projective Hilbert space. It is demonstrated that the open system dynamics can consistently be described by a stochastic process on the reduced state space. The physical meaning of reduced probability distributions on projective Hilbert space is derived from a complete, orthogonal measurement of the environment. The elimination of the variables of the environment is shown to lead to a piecewise deterministic process in Hilbert space defined by a differential Chapman-Kolmogorov equation. A Hilbert space path integral representation of the stochastic process is constructed. The general theory is illustrated by means of three examples from quantum optics. For these examples the microscopic derivation of the stochastic process is given and the general solution of the differential Chapman-Kolmogorov equation is constructed by means of the path integral representation.