English

A Quantum Anti-Zeno Paradox

Quantum Physics 2009-01-23 v1 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

We establish an exact differential equation for the operator describing time-dependent measurements continuous in time and obtain a series solution. Suppose the projection operator E(t)=U(t)EU(t)E(t) = U(t) E U^\dagger(t) is measured continuously from t = 0 to T, where E is a projector leaving the initial state unchanged and U(t) a unitary operator obeying U(0) = 1 and some smoothness conditions in t. We prove that the probability of always finding E(t) = 1 from t = 0 to T is unity. If U(t)1U(t) \neq 1, the watched kettle is sure to `boil'.

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9909056,
  title  = {A Quantum Anti-Zeno Paradox},
  author = {A. P. Balachandran and S. M. Roy},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9909056},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

10 pages,latex

R2 v1 2026-07-22T20:07:04.060Z