From the Quantum Zeno to the Inverse Quantum Zeno Effect

P. Facchi; H. Nakazato; S. Pascazio

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2699

From the Quantum Zeno to the Inverse Quantum Zeno Effect

P. Facchi, H. Nakazato, and S. Pascazio

Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 2699 – Published 26 March 2001

Abstract

The temporal evolution of an unstable quantum mechanical system undergoing repeated measurements is investigated. In general, by changing the time interval between successive measurements, the decay can be accelerated (inverse quantum Zeno effect) or slowed down (quantum Zeno effect), depending on the features of the interaction Hamiltonian. A geometric criterion is proposed for a transition to occur between these two regimes.

Received 21 June 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2699

Authors & Affiliations

P. Facchi^1,3, H. Nakazato², and S. Pascazio³

¹Atominstitut der Österreichischen Universitäten, Stadionallee 2, A-1020, Wien, Austria
²Department of Physics, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
³Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Bari and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bari, I-70126 Bari, Italy