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How to measure the wave-function absolute squared of a moving particle by using mirrors

Quantum Physics 2007-06-19 v2

Abstract

We consider a slow particle with wave function ψt(x)\psi_t(\vec{x}), moving freely in some direction. A mirror is briefly switched on around a time TT and its position is scanned. It is shown that the measured reflection probability then allows the determination of ψT(x)2|\psi_T(\vec{x})|^2. Experimentally available atomic mirrors should make this method applicable to the center-of-mass wave function of atoms with velocities in the cm/s range.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0607098,
  title  = {How to measure the wave-function absolute squared of a moving particle by using mirrors},
  author = {Volker Hannstein and Gerhard C. Hegerfeldt},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0607098},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

4 pages, 5 figures

R2 v1 2026-07-22T19:55:58.727Z