Observing the Progressive Decoherence of the 'Meter' in a Quantum Measurement
Michel Brune,E. Hagley,J. Dreyer,X. Maître,Abdelhamid Maali,Christof Wunderlich,Jean-Michel Raimond,Serge Haroche +7 more
TLDR
The decoherence phenomenon transforming this superposition into a statistical mixture was observed while it unfolded, providing a direct insight into a process at the heart of quantum measurement.Abstract:
A mesoscopic superposition of quantum states involving radiation fields with classically distinct phases was created and its progressive decoherence observed. The experiment involved Rydberg atoms interacting one at a time with a few photon coherent field trapped in a high $Q$ microwave cavity. The mesoscopic superposition was the equivalent of an `` $\mathrm{atom}+\mathrm{measuring}\mathrm{apparatus}$'' system in which the ``meter'' was pointing simultaneously towards two different directions---a ``Schr\"odinger cat.'' The decoherence phenomenon transforming this superposition into a statistical mixture was observed while it unfolded, providing a direct insight into a process at the heart of quantum measurement.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that many of the symptoms of classicality can be induced in quantum systems by their environments, which leads to environment-induced superselection or einselection, a quantum process associated with selective loss of information.
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum dynamics of single trapped ions
TL;DR: Theoretical and experimental work on radio-frequency (Paul) traps is reviewed in this paper, with a focus on ions trapped in radiofrequency traps, which are ideal for quantum-optical and quantum-dynamical studies under well controlled conditions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum superposition of distinct macroscopic states
TL;DR: Experimental evidence is presented that a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) can be put into a superposition of two magnetic-flux states: one corresponding to a few microamperes of current flowing clockwise, the other corresponding to the same amount ofCurrent flowing anticlockwise.
Journal ArticleDOI
Cavity quantum electrodynamics
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the cavity electrodynamics of free atoms is presented, with a focus on the one-atom maser and a survey of the entire field using free atoms.
Journal ArticleDOI
Models of Wave-function Collapse, Underlying Theories, and Experimental Tests
TL;DR: In this article, a review is given of an experimentally falsifiable phenomenological proposal, known as continuous spontaneous collapse, which is a stochastic nonlinear modification of the Schrodinger equation.
References
More filters
Book
The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
TL;DR: Omnes as discussed by the authors examines a number of recent advances, which, combined with a consistent revision of the Copenhagen interpretation, lead to a consistent interpretation of quantum mechanics, which can fit all present experiments, to weed out unnecessary or questionable assumptions, and to assess the domain of validity where the older statements apply.
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum Theory of Measurement
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the absolute square of the wave function at a point of the plate exposed to a beam of electrons scattered by an atomic system can give the probability for finding the electron there.