Quantum Measurements and Decoherence

Models and Phenomenology
2000
ISBN: 978-0-7923-6227-2
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, Band 110, 231 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 1180 g

Reihe: Fundamental Theories of Physics

Quantum measurement (Le., a measurement which is sufficiently precise for quantum effects to be essential) was always one of the most impor­ tant points in quantum mechanics because it most evidently revealed the difference between quantum and classical physics. Now quantum measure­ ment is again under active investigation, first of all because of the practical necessity of dealing with highly precise and complicated measurements. The nature of quantum measurement has become understood much bet­ ter during this new period of activity, the understanding being expressed by the concept of decoherence. This term means a physical process lead­ ing from a pure quantum state (wave function) of the system prior to the measurement to its state after the measurement which includes classical elements. More concretely, decoherence occurs as a result of the entangle­ ment of the measured system with its environment and results in the loss of phase relations between components of the wave function of the measured system. Decoherence is essentially nothing else than quantum measurement, but considered from the point of view of its physical mechanism and resolved in time. The present book is devoted to the two concepts of quantum measure­ ment and decoherence and to their interrelation, especially in the context of continuous quantum measurement.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mensky, M.

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Stochastik Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Stochastik Mathematische Statistik
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Numerik und Wissenschaftliches Rechnen Angewandte Mathematik, Mathematische Modelle
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Angewandte Physik Statistische Physik, Dynamische Systeme
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Physik Allgemein Theoretische Physik, Mathematische Physik, Computerphysik
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Stochastik Stochastische Prozesse
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Quantenphysik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Introduction.- 2 The Physics behind Quantum Measurements.- 3 Measurement induced uncertainties.- 4 Continuous Quantum Measurements: The General Notion.- 5 Fuzzy Continuous Measurements: Phenomenology.- 6 Restricted Path Integrals: General Features.- 7 The Monitoring of Energy.- 8 Monitoring by a series of observations.- 9 The Quantum Zeno effect in a passive setup.- 10 RPI and the Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics.- 11 Conclusion: New Prospects.- A The Formalism of Quantum Mechanics.- A1 The density matrix.- A1.1 Subsystem state.- A1.2 Interpretation of a density matrix.- A1.3 Decomposition of a density matrix.- A2 Uncertainty relations.- A3 Technics of path integrals.- A3.1 Propagators and path integrals.- A3.2 Definition of a path integral.- A3.3 Gaussian path integrals.- References.