Quantum arrival time formula from decoherent histories

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETA.2009.10.077zbMATH Open1235.81021arXiv0903.1958OpenAlexW2053210482MaRDI QIDQ763795FDOQ763795

Authors: D. Kharzeev 

Publication date: 2 April 2012

Published in: Physics Letters. A (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In the arrival time problem in quantum mechanics, a standard formula that frequently emerges as the probability for crossing the origin during a given time interval is the current integrated over that time interval. This is semiclassically correct but can be negative due to backflow. Here, we show that this formula naturally arises in a decoherent histories analysis of the arrival time problem. For a variety of initial states, we show that histories crossing during different time intervals are approximately decoherent. Probabilities may therefore be assigned and coincide with the standard formula (in a semiclassical approximation), which is therefore positive for these states. However, for initial states for which there is backflow, we show that there cannot be decoherence of histories, so probabilities may not be assigned.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0903.1958

Recommendations

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2102219
• Spacetime coarse grainings and the problem of time in the decoherent histories approach to quantum theory
• Time-of-arrival probabilities and quantum measurements
• Time of arrival from Bohmian flow
• The arrival-time distribution: the extended probability approaches

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Semiclassical techniques, including WKB and Maslov methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81Q20) Stochastic mechanics (including stochastic electrodynamics) (81P20) Alternative quantum mechanics (including hidden variables, etc.) (81Q65)

Cites Work

• A new approach to quantum backflow
• Time-of-arrival probabilities and quantum measurements
• An operator derivation of the path decomposition expansion

Cited In (9)

• Title not available (Why is that?)
• Partial decoherence of histories and the Diósi test
• A time of arrival operator on the circle (variations on two ideas)
• The role of conjugacy in the dynamics of time of arrival operators
• Decoherent histories of spin networks
• Spacetime coarse grainings and the problem of time in the decoherent histories approach to quantum theory
• The time distribution of quantum events
• The arrival-time distribution: the extended probability approaches
• Time of arrival and localization of relativistic particles

This page was built for publication: Quantum arrival time formula from decoherent histories

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q763795)