9904098v1

related topics
{wave, scattering, interference}
{trap, ion, state}
{particle, mechanics, theory}
{cavity, atom, atoms}
{light, field, probe}
{photon, photons, single}
{level, atom, field}
{temperature, thermal, energy}
{theory, mechanics, state}
{measurement, state, measurements}
{time, wave, function}
{force, casimir, field}

On energy transfer by detection of a tunneling atom

A. M. Steinberg

abstract: We are in the process of building an experiment to study the tunneling of laser-cooled Rubidium atoms through an optical barrier. A particularly thorny set of questions arises when one considers the possibility of observing a tunneling particle while it is in the ``forbidden'' region. In earlier work, we have discussed how one might probe a tunneling atom ``weakly,'' so as to prevent collapse. Here we make some observations about the implications of a more traditional quantum measurement. Considerations of energy conservation suggest that attempts to observe tunneling atoms will enhance inelastic scattering, but not in a way which can be directly observed. It is possible that attempts to make such measurements may lead to experimentally realizable ``observationally assisted barrier penetration.''

oai_identifier:
oai:arXiv.org:quant-ph/9904098
categories:
quant-ph
comments:
5 pages, 2 figures
arxiv_id:
quant-ph/9904098
journal_ref:
J.KoreanPhys.Soc.35:122-126,1999
created:
1999-04-28

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