One can reduce the involved derivation of Balachandran and Roy of their `anti-Zeno' effect [Phys.Rev.Lett. 84, 4019 (2000)] to the derivation of standard Zeno effect. The mechanism of what the authors call `anti-Zeno' effect is a dynamic version of Zeno effect.
As of October 2006, there were approximately 535 citations to the seminal 1977 paper of Misra and Sudarshan that pointed out the quantum Zeno paradox (more often called the quantum Zeno effect). In simple terms, the quantum Zeno effect refers to a slowing down of the evolution of a quantum state in the limit that the state is observed continuously. There has been much disagreement as to how the quantum Zeno effect should be defined and as to whether it is really a paradox, requiring new physics, or merely a consequence of "ordinary" quantum mechanics. The experiment of Itano, Heinzen, Bollinge…
The quantum Zeno paradox is fully resolved for purely indirect and incomplete measurements performed by the detectors outside the system. If the outside detectors are prepared to observe propagating signals of a decay event of an excited state in the core region, the survival probability of the state is not changed at all by the outside measurements, as long as the wavefunction of the signals does not have reflectional-wave contributions going back to the core by the outside detectors. The proof is independendent of the decay law of the survival probabilities. Just watching frequently from out…
The driven evolution of the spin of an individual atomic ion on the ground-state hyperfine resonance is impeded by the observation of the ion in one of the pertaining eigenstates. Detection of resonantly scattered light identifies the ion in its upper ``bright'' state. The lower ``dark'' ion state is free of relaxation and correlated with the detector by a null signal. Null events represent the straightforward demonstration of the quantum Zeno paradox. Also, high probability of survival was demonstrated when the ion, driven by a fractionated $π$ pulse, was probed {\em and monitored} during the…
In the paper by M. Hotta and M. Morikawa [Phys. Rev. A 69, 052114 (2004)] the non-existence of the quantum Zeno effect caused by indirect measurements has been claimed. It is shown here that the pertinent proof is incorrect, and the claim unfounded.
The possibility to observe quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno scenarios for atom-diatom reactive collisions is investigated for two diferent processes (F+HD and H+O_2) by means of time-dependent wave packet propagations. A novel approach is proposed in which the survival probabilities investigated are those obtained when the initial state is redefined after time intervals tau at which measurements are performed on the system. The comparison with the actual probability for the unperturbed system reveals the existence of a regime in which the decay from the initial state appears to be inhibited (the qua…
A discussion of the quantum Zeno effect and paradox is given. The quantum Zeno paradox claims that a continuously observed system, prepared in a state which is not an eigenstate of the Hamiltonian operator, never decays. To recover the classical behavior of unstable systems we consider a two-level system interacting with a Bose field, respectively prepared in the excited state and in the Poincare invariant vacuum state. Using time-dependent perturbation theory, we evaluate for a finite time interval the probability of spontaneous decay of the two-level system. Using the standard argument to ob…
S. Longhi [1] studied the survival probability P(t) of an unstable state coupled to a tight-binding lattice finding an exact analytical solution that describes the nonexponential decay. When the first coupling is smaller than the others, he shows that P(t) has a natural decomposition into two terms; one is the exponential decay, consistent with the Gamow's approach, and the other is the correction to this decay. The first purpose of this Comment is to show that the condition imposed on the system; the site energy of the first site is set in the center of the band, limits the generality of the …
We establish an exact differential equation for the operator describing time-dependent measurements continuous in time and obtain a series solution. Suppose the projection operator $E(t) = U(t) E U^\dagger(t)$ is measured continuously from t = 0 to T, where E is a projector leaving the initial state unchanged and U(t) a unitary operator obeying U(0) = 1 and some smoothness conditions in t. We prove that the probability of always finding E(t) = 1 from t = 0 to T is unity. If $U(t) \neq 1$, the watched kettle is sure to `boil'.
We present an overview of the mathematics underlying the quantum Zeno effect. Classical, functional analytic results are put into perspective and compared with more recent ones. This yields some new insights into mathematical preconditions entailing the Zeno paradox, in particular a simplified proof of Misra's and Sudarshan's theorem. We empahsise the complex-analytic structures associated to the issue of existence of the Zeno dynamics. On grounds of the assembled material, we reason about possible future mathematical developments pertaining to the Zeno paradox and its counterpart, the anti-Ze…
We derive differential equations for the modified Feynman propagator and for the density operator describing time-dependent measurements or histories continuous in time. We obtain an exact series solution and discuss its applications. Suppose the system is initially in a state with density operator $ρ(0)$ and the projection operator $E(t) = U(t) E U^\dagger(t)$ is measured continuously from $t = 0$ to $T$, where $E$ is a projector obeying $Eρ(0) E = ρ(0)$ and $U(t)$ a unitary operator obeying $U(0) = 1$ and some smoothness conditions in $t$. Then the probability of always finding $E(t) = 1$ fr…
We analyse the track of an α-particle passing through a cloud chamber using the Bohm theory and show that the resulting classical track has its origins in the quantum Zeno effect. By assuming the ionised gas molecules reveal the positions of the α-particle on its trajectory and using these positions in a short time propagator technique developed by de Gosson, we show it is the failure of the quantum potential to develop quickly enough that leads to the appearance of the classical trajectory. Bohm and Hiley have already argued that it is this failure of the quantum potential to develop appropri…
In the standard physical interpretation of quantum theory, prediction and retrodiction are not symmetric. The opposite assertion by some authors results from their use of non-standard interpretations of the theory.
In 1977, Mishra and Sudarshan showed that an unstable particle would never be found decayed while it was continuously observed. They called this effect the quantum Zeno effect (or paradox). Later it was realized that the frequent measurements could also accelerate the decay (quantum anti-Zeno effect). In this paper we investigate the quantum Zeno effect using the definite model of the measurement. We take into account the finite duration and the finite accuracy of the measurement. A general equation for the jump probability during the measurement is derived. We find that the measurements can c…
The comment by Lundeen et al. contains two criticisms of our proposal. While we agree that the state-preparation procedure could be replaced by a simpler setup as proposed by the authors of the comment, we do not agree with the authors on their second, and more important point regarding two-particle weak measurements. We believe this to be the result of a misunderstanding of our original paper.
A recent experimental proposal by Ahnert and Payne [S.E. Ahnert and M.C. Payne, Phys. Rev. A 70, 042102 (2004)] outlines a method to measure the weak value predictions of Aharonov in Hardy's paradox. This proposal contains flaws such as the state preparation method and the procedure for carrying out the requisite weak measurements. We identify previously published solutions to some of the flaws.
As Lanzagorta and Crowder have shown in their Comment [Phys. Rev. A 96, 026101 (2017)], the linear application of the Wigner rotations to the quantum state of two massive relativistic particles does not entail the instantaneous transmission of information as we concluded in our paper [Phys. Rev. A 87, 042102 (2013)]. But in the new version of our paper in arXiv [arXiv:1303.4367v2] we show (and solve) another paradox that is generated by the linear application of the Wigner rotations to a system with a single relativistic particle. So the conclusion of our paper that we cannot in general linear…
This is an analysis of the recently published article `Quantum theory cannot consistently describe the use of itself' by D. Frauchiger and R. Renner~\cite{1}. Here I decipher the paradox and analyze it from the point of view of de Broglie-Bohm hidden variable theory (i.e., Bohmian mechanics). I also analyze the problem from the perspective obtained by the Copenhagen interpretation (i.e., the Bohrian interpretation) and show that both views are self consistent and do not lead to any contradiction with a `single-world' description of quantum theory.
This paper is a comment on quant-ph/0606067 by Ravon and Vaidman, in which they defend the position that the ``three-box paradox'' is indeed paradoxical.
In [JETP Lett. 105(3), 152 (2017)], a clear and comprehensive analysis of the paradoxical results of experiment [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 240402 (2013)] was carried out on the basis of the classical wave theory of light, which presupposes the continuity of possible of light paths. It was shown that the paradoxical results of the experiment are due not to the discontinuity of the trajectories of light, as claimed in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 240402 (2013)], but to the used way of detecting the path of photons. The experiment modification proposed in [JETP Lett. 105(3), 152 (2017)] allows us to elimin…
Quantum Zeno Dynamics is the phenomenon that the observation or strong driving of a quantum system can freeze its dynamics to a subspace, effectively truncating the Hilbert space of the system. It represents the quantum version of the famous flying arrow Zeno paradox. Here, we study how temporal stochasticity in the system observation (or driving) affects the survival probability of the system in the subspace. In particular, we introduce a strong and a weak Zeno regime for which we quantify the confinement by providing an analytical expression for this survival probability. We investigate seve…
In the 5th century B.C.,the philosopher and logician Zeno of Elea posed several paradoxes which remained unresolved for over two thousand five hundred years. The $20^{th}$ century saw some resolutions to Zeno's mind boggling problems. This long journey saw many significant milestones in the form of discoveries like the tools of converging series and theories on infinite sets in mathematics. In recent times, the Zeno effect made an intriguing appearance in a rather unlikely place - a situation involving the time evolution of a quantum system, which is subject to "observations" over a period of …
This is a short reply to arXiv:2112.00436v1 and arXiv:2111.09347v1 by C. Bracken, J.R. Hance, and S. Hossenfelder. I precise some elements concerning i) the methodology of my previous version of the comment [arXiv:2111.13357v3] to arXiv:2111.09347v1, and ii) why the grand father-paradox (causal loop) presented in their article comes from a prejudice concerning retrocausality not from retrocausality or locality themselves.
A model for quantum Zeno effect based upon an effective Schrödinger equation originated by the path-integral approach is developed and applied to a two-level system simultaneously stimulated by a resonant perturbation. It is shown that inhibition of stimulated transitions between the two levels appears as a consequence of the influence of the meter whenever measurements of energy, either continuous or pulsed, are performed at quantum level of sensitivity. The generality of this approach allows to qualitatively understand the inhibition of spontaneous transitions as the decay of unstable partic…
We analyze the quantum Zeno dynamics that takes place when a field stored in a cavity undergoes frequent interactions with atoms. We show that repeated measurements or unitary operations performed on the atoms probing the field state confine the evolution to tailored subspaces of the total Hilbert space. This confinement leads to non-trivial field evolutions and to the generation of interesting non-classical states, including mesoscopic field state superpositions. We elucidate the main features of the quantum Zeno mechanism in the context of a state-of-the-art cavity quantum electrodynamics ex…
It is claimed in the above paper that, if time travel were possible, quantum propagation would prevent classic time travel paradoxes by establishing consistent loops; an example circuit is used to demonstrate such a loop. It is argued here that established loops are not the framework in which the classic paradoxes arise; rather they arise via the establishment of a concrete initial history in which no disturbing time travel is allowed and then disturbing that history via the launch of the time traveller. It is shown that, operated in this two-pass fashion, if the first forward evolution of the…
Contrary to the opinion of J. Polchinski [Phys.Rev.Lett. {\bf 66}, 397-400 (1991)], the phenomenon of superluminal messages in nonlinear versions of quantum mechanics is not a specific difficulty in a class of theories formulated by S. Weinberg [Ann.Phys. (N.Y.), {\bf 194}, 336-386 (1989)]. It appears in all schemes which try to enlarge the orthodox class of observables, while conserving the traditional structure of the pure and mixed states.
This is a short text covering some topics on the Foundations of Quantum Theory and it includes some comments on the recent Nature article by D. Frauchiger and R. Renner. The so-called "paradox" is simply due to a misunderstanding on the appropriate way to apply the quantum mechanical rules. The text is meant to be accessible to non physicists and the math is kept to a minimum (just some Linear Algebra and extremely elementary Probability Theory).
We respond to criticism of our paper "Paradox in Wave-Paricle Duality for Non-Perturbative Measurements". We disagree with Steuernagel's derivation of the visibility of the Afshar experiment. To calculate the fringe visibility, Steuernagel utilizes two different experimental situations, i.e. the wire grid in the pattern minima and in the pattern maxima. In our assessment, this proceduere cannot lead to the correct result for the complementarity properties of wave-particle in one particular experimental set-up.
Prevention of a quantum system's time evolution by repetitive, frequent measurements of the system's state has been called the quantum Zeno effect (or paradox). Here we investigate theoretically and numerically the effect of repeated measurements on the quantum dynamics of the multilevel systems that exhibit the quantum localization of the classical chaos. The analysis is based on the wave function and Schroedinger equation, without introduction of the density matrix. We show how the quantum Zeno effect in simple few-level systems can be recovered and understood by formal modeling the measurem…
The purpose of this comment is to clarify two points related to the Dirac equation. First, the Lorentz structure of the potential and its connection with the Klein paradox. Second, the connection between the number of space dimensions and the number of spinor components.
The purpose of this comment is to show that a reinterpretation of the results from the Letter: "Physics and Metaphysics of Wigner's Friends: Even performed pre-measurements have no results" allows for reaching the conclusion "pre-measurements have no resul" [arXiv:2003.07464] based only on postulates of quantum mechanics without additional assumptions on irreversibility. Additionally, with supplementary reasoning based on Bell's theorem, one can show that unitary decoherence cannot be solely responsible for the quantum-to-classical transition, and an additional irreversibility model is require…
In this revised reply to quant-ph/0211165, I address the question of the validity of my results in greater detail, by comparing my predictions to those of the Silberfarb-Deutsch model, and I deal at greater length with the beam area paradox. As before, I conclude that my previous results are an (order-of-magnitude) accurate estimate of the error probability introduced in quantum logical operations by the quantum nature of the laser field. While this error will typically (for a paraxial beam) be smaller than the total error due to spontaneous emission, a unified treatment of both effects reveal…
The first paper: We describe principles of new cybernetics and use these principles for resolution of basic physical paradoxes. It demonstrates universality of the principles of new cybernetics. The second paper: recent letter by Maccone presents a solution based on the existing laws of quantum mechanics to the arrow-of-time dilemma. He argues that all phenomena in which the entropy decreases must not leave any information (in the observer's memory) of their having occurred because the observer is a part of the whole system. Maccone concludes that quantum mechanics is necessary to his argument…
In this article we argue that thermal reservoirs (baths) are potentially useful resources in processes involving atoms interacting with quantized electromagnetic fields and their applications to quantum technologies. One may try to suppress the bath effects by means of dynamical control, but such control does not always yield the desired results. We wish instead to take advantage of bath effects, that do not obliterate "quantumness" in the system-bath compound. To this end, three possible approaches have been pursued by us: (i) Control of a quantum system faster than the correlation time of th…
In recent decades it was established that the quantum measurements of physical quantities in space-time points divided by space-like intervals may be correlated. Though such correlation follows from the formulas of quantum mechanics its physics so far remains unclear and there is a number of different and rather contradictory interpretations. They concern particularly the so-called Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox where the momentary action at a distance together with non-local entangled states is used for the interpretation. We assume that the quantum theory can be formulated as local and look…
We describe in a qualitative way a possible picture of the Measurement Process in Quantum Mechanics, which takes into account: 1. the finite and non zero time duration T of the interaction between the observed system and the microscopic part of the measurement apparatus; 2. the finite space size R of that apparatus; 3. the fact that the macroscopic part of the measurement apparatus, having the role of amplifying the effect of that interaction to a macroscopic scale, is composed by a very large but finite number N of particles. The conventional picture of the measurement, as an instantaneous ac…