9,191 research outputs found
On the notion of coexistence in quantum mechanics
The notion of coexistence of quantum observables was introduced to describe the possibility of measuring two or more observables together. Here we survey the various different formalisations of this notion and their connections. We review examples illustrating the necessary degrees of unsharpness for two noncommuting observables to be jointly measurable (in one sense of the phrase). We demonstrate the possibility of measuring together (in another sense of the phrase) noncoexistent observables. This leads us to a reconsideration of the connection between joint measurability and noncommutativity of observables and of the statistical and individual aspects of quantum measurements
On the Sharpness and Bias of Quantum Effects
The question of quantifying the sharpness (or unsharpness) of a quantum
mechanical effect is investigated. Apart from sharpness, another property,
bias, is found to be relevant for the joint measurability or coexistence of two
effects. Measures of bias will be defined and examples given.Comment: Substantially expanded version, with new results and some proofs
correcte
Quantum Mechanics as a Framework for Dealing with Uncertainty
Quantum uncertainty is described here in two guises: indeterminacy with its
concomitant indeterminism of measurement outcomes, and fuzziness, or
unsharpness. Both features were long seen as obstructions of experimental
possibilities that were available in the realm of classical physics. The birth
of quantum information science was due to the realization that such
obstructions can be turned into powerful resources. Here we review how the
utilization of quantum fuzziness makes room for a notion of approximate joint
measurement of noncommuting observables. We also show how from a classical
perspective quantum uncertainty is due to a limitation of measurability
reflected in a fuzzy event structure -- all quantum events are fundamentally
unsharp.Comment: Plenary Lecture, Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics, Turku
2009
Unsharp Quantum Reality
The positive operator (valued) measures (POMs) allow one to generalize the notion of observable beyond the traditional one based on projection valued measures (PVMs). Here, we argue that this generalized conception of observable enables a consistent notion of unsharp reality and with it an adequate concept of joint properties. A sharp or unsharp property manifests itself as an element of sharp or unsharp reality by its tendency to become actual or to actualize a specific measurement outcome. This actualization tendency-or potentiality-of a property is quantified by the associated quantum probability. The resulting single-case interpretation of probability as a degree of reality will be explained in detail and its role in addressing the tensions between quantum and classical accounts of the physical world will be elucidated. It will be shown that potentiality can be viewed as a causal agency that evolves in a well-defined way
On the complementarity of the quadrature observables
In this paper we investigate the coupling properties of pairs of quadrature
observables, showing that, apart from the Weyl relation, they share the same
coupling properties as the position-momentum pair. In particular, they are
complementary. We determine the marginal observables of a covariant phase space
observable with respect to an arbitrary rotated reference frame, and observe
that these marginal observables are unsharp quadrature observables. The related
distributions constitute the Radon tranform of a phase space distribution of
the covariant phase space observable. Since the quadrature distributions are
the Radon transform of the Wigner function of a state, we also exhibit the
relation between the quadrature observables and the tomography observable, and
show how to construct the phase space observable from the quadrature
observables. Finally, we give a method to measure together with a single
measurement scheme any complementary pair of quadrature observables.Comment: Dedicated to Peter Mittelstaedt in honour of his eightieth birthda
The Standard Model of Quantum Measurement Theory: History and Applications
The standard model of the quantum theory of measurement is based on an
interaction Hamiltonian in which the observable-to-be-measured is multiplied
with some observable of a probe system. This simple Ansatz has proved extremely
fruitful in the development of the foundations of quantum mechanics. While the
ensuing type of models has often been argued to be rather artificial, recent
advances in quantum optics have demonstrated their prinicpal and practical
feasibility. A brief historical review of the standard model together with an
outline of its virtues and limitations are presented as an illustration of the
mutual inspiration that has always taken place between foundational and
experimental research in quantum physics.Comment: 22 pages, to appear in Found. Phys. 199
Adiabatic information transport in the presence of decoherence
We study adiabatic population transfer between discrete positions. Being
closely related to STIRAP in optical systems, this transport is coherent and
robust against variations of experimental parameters. Thanks to these
properties the scheme is a promising candidate for transport of quantum
information in quantum computing. We study the effects of spatially registered
noise sources on the quantum transport and in particular model Markovian
decoherence via non-local coupling to nearby quantum point contacts which serve
as information readouts. We find that the rate of decoherence experienced by a
spatial superposition initially grows with spatial separation but surprisingly
then plateaus. In addition we include non-Markovian effects due to couplings to
nearby two level systems and we find that although the population transport
exhibits robustness in the presence of both types of noise sources, the
transport of a spatial superposition exhibits severe fragility.Comment: 11page
Collisional Quantum Brownian Motion
We derive a quantum master equation from first principles to describe
friction in one dimensional, collisional Brownian motion. We are the first to
avoid an ill-defined square of the Dirac delta function by using localized wave
packets rather than plane waves. Solving the Schr\"odinger equation for two
colliding particles, we discover that the previously found position diffusion
is not a physical process, but an artifact of the approximation of a coarse
grained time scale, which in turn is needed to find Markkovian dynamics.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur
Completely positive maps on modules, instruments, extremality problems, and applications to physics
Convex sets of completely positive maps and positive semidefinite kernels are
considered in the most general context of modules over -algebras and a
complete charaterization of their extreme points is obtained. As a byproduct,
we determine extreme quantum instruments, preparations, channels, and extreme
autocorrelation functions. Various applications to quantum information and
measurement theories are given. The structure of quantum instruments is
analyzed thoroughly.Comment: 32 page
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