Quantum dwell times
Quantum Physics
2007-05-23 v1
Abstract
We put forward several inherently quantum characteristics of the dwell time, and propose an operational method to detect them. The quantum dwell time is pointed out to be a conserved quantity, totally bypassing Pauli's theorem. Furthermore, the quantum dwell time in a region for one dimensional motion is doubly degenerate. In presence of a potential barrier, the dwell time becomes bounded, unlike the classical quantity. By using off-resonance coupling to a laser we propose an operational method to measure the absorption by a complex potential, and thereby the average time spent by an incoming atom in the laser region.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0403081,
title = {Quantum dwell times},
author = {J. A. Damborenea and I. L. Egusquiza and J. G. Muga and B. Navarro},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0403081},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 2 eps figures