Past of a particle in an entangled state

DOI10.1142/S0219749917400196zbMATH Open1397.81027arXiv1709.07728WikidataQ62568701 ScholiaQ62568701MaRDI QIDQ4584386FDOQ4584386

Authors: Dilip Paneru, Eliahu Cohen 

Publication date: 3 September 2018

Published in: International Journal of Quantum Information (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Vaidman has proposed a controversial criterion for determining the past of a single quantum particle based on the "weak trace" it leaves. We here consider more general examples of entangled systems and analyze the past of single, as well as pairs of entangled pre- and postselected particles. Systems with non-trivial time evolution are also analyzed. We argue that in these cases, examining only the single-particle weak trace provides information which is insufficient for understanding the system as a whole. We therefore suggest to examine, alongside with the past of single particles, also the past of pairs, triplets and eventually the entire system, including higher-order, multipartite traces in the analysis. This resonates with a recently proposed top-down approach by Aharonov, Cohen and Tollaksen for understanding the structure of correlations in pre- and postselected systems.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1709.07728

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zbMATH Keywords

entanglementweak valuesquantum nonlocalitypast of a quantum particle

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum measurement theory, state operations, state preparations (81P15) Quantum coherence, entanglement, quantum correlations (81P40) Quantum state estimation, approximate cloning (81P50)

Cites Work

• Revisiting Hardy's paradox: Counterfactual statements, real measurements, entanglement and weak values
• Quantum weak values and logic: an uneasy couple
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Quantum to Classical Transitions via Weak Measurements and Post-Selection
• Two-state vector formalism and quantum interference

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• Asking photons where they have been in plain language

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