Abstract
A stochastic model of a continuous nondemolition observation of a quantum system is presented. The nonlinear stochastic wave equation describing the posterior dynamics of the observed quantum system is solved for a free particle of mass m>0. It is shown that the dispersion of the Gaussian wave packet does not increase to infinity as for a free unobserved particle, but tends to the finite limit =(ħ/2λm, where λ is the accuracy coefficient of an indirect nondemolition measurement of the particle’s position.
- Received 28 May 1991
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.45.1347
©1992 American Physical Society