Past of a quantum particle

L. Vaidman
Phys. Rev. A 87, 052104 – Published 3 May 2013

Abstract

Although there is no consensus regarding the “reality” of the past of a quantum particle, in situations where there is only one trajectory with a nonvanishing quantum wave of the particle between its emission and detection points, it seems “safe” to associate the past of the particle with this trajectory. A method for analyzing the past of a quantum particle according to the weak trace it leaves is proposed. Such a trace can be observed via measurements performed on an ensemble of identically pre- and postselected particles. Examples in which this method contradicts the above common sense description of the past of the particle are presented. It is argued that it is possible to describe the past of a quantum particle, but the naive approach has to be replaced by both forward- and backward-evolving quantum states.

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  • Received 25 November 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.87.052104

©2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

L. Vaidman

  • Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel

Comments & Replies

Comment on “Past of a quantum particle”

Zheng-Hong Li, M. Al-Amri, and M. Suhail Zubairy
Phys. Rev. A 88, 046102 (2013)

Reply to “Comment on ‘Past of a quantum particle’ ”

L. Vaidman
Phys. Rev. A 88, 046103 (2013)

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Vol. 87, Iss. 5 — May 2013

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