English

Models of Particle Detection in Regions of Spacetime

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2009-10-22 v1 High Energy Physics - Theory

Abstract

We investigate two models of measuring devices designed to detect a non-relativistic free particle in a given region of spacetime. These models predict different probabilities for a free quantum particle to enter a spacetime region RR so that this notion is device dependent. The first model is of a von Neumann coupling which we present as a contrast to the second model. The second model is shown to be related to probabilities defined through partitions of configuration space paths in a path integral. This study thus provides insight into the physical situations to which such definitions of probabilities are appropriate.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.gr-qc/9307003,
  title  = {Models of Particle Detection in Regions of Spacetime},
  author = {Donald Marolf},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/9307003},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

21 preprint or 10 journal pages REVTEX, SU-GP-93/5-4