J. A. Damborenea, I. L. Egusquiza, Juan Gonzalo Muga +1 more
We put forward several inherently quantum characteristics of the dwell time, and propose an operational method to detect them. The quantum dwell time is pointed out to be a conserved quantity, totally bypassing Pauli's theorem. Furthermore, the quantum dwell time in a region for one dimensional motion is doubly degenerate. In presence of a potential barrier, the dwell time becomes bounded, unlike the classical quantity. By using off-resonance coupling to a laser we propose an operational method to measure the absorption by a complex potential, and thereby the average time spent by an incoming atom in the laser region.
arXiv:quant-ph/0403081•Mar 10, 2004•1 citation