Zeno effect preventing Rabi transitions onto an unstable energy level
Quantum Physics
2009-10-31 v1
Abstract
We consider a driven 2-level system with one level showing spontaneous decay to an otherwise uncoupled third level. Rabi transitions to the unstable level are strongly damped. This simple configuration can be used to demonstrate and to explore the quantum Zeno effect leading to a freezing of the system to the initial level. A comparison with repeated projection measurements is given. A treatment within a phenomenological theory of continuous measurements is sketched. The system visualizes the important role of null measurements (negative result measurements) and may serve as a good example for a truly continuous measurement.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/9906068,
title = {Zeno effect preventing Rabi transitions onto an unstable energy level},
author = {J. Audretsch and M. B. Mensky and A. D. Panov},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/9906068},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
13 pages, Latex, 2 EPS figures