Observation time and its relation to the quantum Zeno effect

However, in the second case, the camera taking pictures every 5 minutes adds an element of randomness, making the exact time of decay uncertain with a precision of +/- 5 minutes.
  • #1
xaratustra
38
0
Hi.
I have a problem to understand the following situation regarding observation of a quantum system:

Imagine we have an unstable particle in a box, together with many sensors where each is connected to a lamp. The sensors continuously monitor the particle, the lamp turns on whenever the particle decays.

Case 1: The particle, all sensors and lamps are inside the box which is ideally isolated from the universe.

Case 2: The lamp of one of the sensors is taken out of the box, whereas the sensor is still inside and both are still connected. Other sensors and lamps are still inside of the box. The lamp will be monitored with a camera that takes a picture of the lamp every 5 minutes. We set up the experiment for the night. Next day, we have a large collection of pictures and we can determine the exact time of decay with the precision of +/- 5 minutes.

What is the observation time in both cases? How can I relate this to the quantum zeno effect?

many thanks.
 
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  • #2
In both cases, the observation time is the same. In both cases, the particle is continuously monitored, so the observation time is effectively infinite. This corresponds to the quantum Zeno effect, where the act of continuous observation prevents the particle from decaying.
 

1. What is observation time and why is it important in relation to the quantum Zeno effect?

Observation time refers to the amount of time during which a quantum system is being observed or measured. It is important in the context of the quantum Zeno effect because this effect relies on frequent and continuous observations of a quantum system to prevent it from evolving or changing its state.

2. How does the quantum Zeno effect relate to the concept of "watching a pot never boil"?

The quantum Zeno effect is a similar concept to the saying "a watched pot never boils". This is because the constant observation of a quantum system prevents it from changing or "boiling", just like how constantly watching a pot prevents it from boiling over.

3. Can the quantum Zeno effect be observed in macroscopic systems?

No, the quantum Zeno effect is a phenomenon that only occurs at the quantum level. It is not observable in macroscopic systems due to the large number of particles and interactions involved, which make it impossible to continuously observe the system.

4. How does the frequency of observations affect the effectiveness of the quantum Zeno effect?

The more frequently a quantum system is observed, the more effective the quantum Zeno effect will be. This is because frequent observations prevent the system from evolving or changing its state, essentially "freezing" it in its initial state.

5. What practical applications does the quantum Zeno effect have?

The quantum Zeno effect has potential applications in quantum computing and information processing. It can also be used to stabilize quantum systems and prevent decoherence, which is the loss of quantum information due to interaction with the environment.

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