Decoherence and Quantum Measurements

Download or read book Decoherence and Quantum Measurements written by Mikio Namiki and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 1998-02-10 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The quantum measurement problem is one of the most fascinating and challenging topics in physics both theoretically and experimentally. It involves deep questions and the use of very sophisticated and elegant techniques. After analyzing the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics and of the Copenhagen interpretation, this book reviews the most important approaches to the measurement problem and rigorously reformulates the “collapse of the wave function” by measurement, as a dephasing process quantitatively characterized by an order parameter (called the decoherence parameter), according to the many-Hilbert-space approach to the problem. The book deals not only with the measurement processes (including imperfect measurements) but also with related interference and mesoscopic phenomena — by means of general arguments — of solvable models and of numerical simulations. The quantum Zeno effect and the issue of irreversibility are also discussed. Contents:General and Historical SurveyElements of Quantum MechanicsCritical Review of Measurement TheoriesThe Many-Hilbert-Space TheorySolvable Detector ModelsNeutron InterferometryNumerical Simulations of Measurement ProcessesQuantum Zeno EffectQuantum Dephasing by Chaos Readership: Physicists interested in the foundations of quantum theory. keywords:Decoherence;Irreversibility;Quantum Zeno Effect;Quantum Measurements;Environment;Classical Properties;Mesoscopic Systems;Time Evolutions;Projection Postulate;Collapse of the Wave Function “… considerable background material is given, allowing the volume to serve general educational and reference purposes as well. I can recommend it to anyone wanting an orientation to quantum measurement theory and, in particular, wanting to focus on the Many Hilbert Space Theory.” Foundations of Physics “The book may be useful both for students and experts.” Zentralblatt MATH