The Zeno effect: measurement versus decoherence

Anu Venugopalan, Rupamanjari Ghosh

S. A. Gurvitz

S. Tasaki, A. Tokuse, Paolo Facchi A +1 more

Abstract The control of thermal decoherence via dynamical decoupling and via the quantum Zeno effect (Zeno control) is investigated for a model of trapped ion, where the dynamics of two low‐lying hyperfine states undergoes decoherence due to the thermal interaction with an excited state. Dynamical decoupling is a procedure that consists in periodically driving the excited state, while the Zeno control consists in frequently measuring it. When the control frequency is high enough, decoherence is shown to be suppressed. Otherwise, both controls may accelerate decoherence. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004

Onofrio L. Russo, Liang Jiang

P. Facchi, S. Pascazio

The time evolution of an unstable quantum mechanical system coupled with an external measuring agent is investigated. According to the features of the interaction Hamiltonian, a quantum Zeno effect (hindered decay) or an inverse quantum Zeno effect (accelerated decay) can take place, depending on the response time of the apparatus. The transition between the two regimes is analyzed for both pulsed and continuous measurements.