9812017v2

related topics
{measurement, state, measurements}
{time, decoherence, evolution}
{equation, function, exp}
{phase, path, phys}
{level, atom, field}
{vol, operators, histories}
{energy, gaussian, time}
{temperature, thermal, energy}
{particle, mechanics, theory}
{field, particle, equation}
{time, systems, information}
{theory, mechanics, state}
{energy, state, states}
{time, wave, function}
{spin, pulse, spins}
{cos, sin, state}
{force, casimir, field}
{classical, space, random}

Decoherence and the theory of continuous quantum measurements

Michael B. Mensky

abstract: Decoherence of a quantum system (which then starts to display classical features) results from the interaction of the system with the environment, and is well described in the framework of the theory of continuous quantum measurements (CQM). Reviewed are the various approaches to the CQM theory, and the approach based on the effective complex Hamiltonians is discussed in greater detail. The effective complex Hamiltonian is derived from the restricted path integral, which emphasizes the role of information in the dynamics of the system being measured. The complex Hamiltonian is used for analyzing the CQM of energy in a two-level system. Such measurement is demonstrated to be capable of monitoring the quantum transition, and the back effect of monitoring on the probability of transition is analyzed. The realization of this type of measurement by a long series of soft observations of the system is presented.

oai_identifier:
oai:arXiv.org:quant-ph/9812017
categories:
quant-ph
comments:
55 pages, latex, 4 figures in EPS
doi:
10.1070/PU1998v041n09ABEH000442
arxiv_id:
quant-ph/9812017
journal_ref:
Phys.Usp.41:923-940,1998
created:
1998-12-07
updated:
1998-12-26

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