Observing a quantum measurement

DOI10.1007/S10701-021-00522-0MaRDI QIDQ2076333zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Jay Lawrence

Publication date 16 February 2022

Published in Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.00061

zbMATH Keywords

measuremententanglementirreversibilitynondestructive

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Quantum coherence, entanglement, quantum correlations (81P40) Spinor and twistor methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81R25) Irreversible thermodynamics, including Onsager-Machlup theory (82B35)

Abstract: With the example of a Stern-Gerlach measurement on a spin-1/2 atom, we show that a superposition of both paths may be observed compatibly with properties attributed to state collapse - for example, the singleness (or mutual exclusivity) of outcomes. This is done by inserting a quantum two-state system (an ancilla) in each path, capable of responding to the passage of the atom, and thus acting as a virtual detector. We then consider real measurements on the compound system of atomic spin and two ancillae. Nondestructive measurements of a set of compatible joint observables can be performed, one for a superposition and others for collapse properties. A novel perspective is given as to why, within unitary quantum theory, ordinary measurements are blind to such superpositions. Implications for the theory of measurement are discussed.

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Cited in

(7)

• Does the measurement take place when nobody observes it?
• Observing a superposition
• Observing quantum systems
• Quantum measurement process with an ideal detector array
• Reflection of a particle from a quantum measurement
• Looking for the source of change
• Pointers for quantum measurement theory

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