Abstract
Environmental quantum state diffusion (EQSD) models an indivdual quantum system interacting with its environment. It provides a method for practical computations that is more efficient than the numerical solution of the master equation for the density operator, provides physical insight, and has been widely applied. Primary state diffusion (PSD) is a related alternative quantum theory based on principles that are as simple as those of ordinary quantum theory, but its predictions are different. Compared with other alternative theories, PSD is less difficult to test experimentally. It is based on four principles and three conditions and contains one undetermined universal time constant τ 0. Special relativity is needed for extended systems even when they contain only slowly moving massive particles. Experiments on matter interferometry are proposed which either measure τ 0 or put bounds on it, and which might distinguish between PSD and ordinary quantum mechanics within the next decade. Both EQSD and PSD are based on Langevin-Itô diffusion equations for pure quantum states.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Barchielli, A. & Belavkin, V. P. 1991 J. Phys. A 24, 1495–1514.
Bedford, D. & Wang, D. 1975 Nuo. Cira. B 26, 313–315; 1977 Nuo. Cim. B 37, 55–62.
Bell, J. S. 1987a Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bell, J. S. 1987b Schrödinger, Centenary of a Polymath, ed Kilmister, C. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, reprinted in Bell, (1987a).
Bell, J. S. 1990 Physics World 3, 33–40
Bohm, D. & Bub, J. 1966 Rev. Mod. Phys., 38, 453–469.
Bohm, D. & Hiley, B. J. 1993 The Undivided Universe, London and New York: Routledge.
Carmichael, H. J. 1993 An Open systems Approach to Quantum Optics, Lecture Notes in Physics m18, Berlin: Springer.
Diósi, L. 1988 J. Phys. A 21, 2885–2898.
Diósi, L. 1989 Phys. Rev. A 40, 1165–1173.
Diósi, L. 1992 In Quantum Chaos, Quantum Measurement; NATO ASI Series C: Math. Phys. Sci. 357 eds Cvitanovic P., Percival, I. C. & Wirzba A., Dordrecht: Kluwer, 299–304.
Garraway, B. M. & Knight, P. L. 1994a Phys. Rev. A 49 1266–1274; 1994b Dissipitive environments: quantum jumps or phase space localisation?. To appear in Quantum Optics VI,Eds Harvey and Walls.
Ghirardi, G.-C., Rimini, A. & Weber, T. 1986 Phys. Rev. D 34, 470–491.
Ghirardi, G.-C., Grassi, R. & Rimini, A.. 1990 Phys. Rev. A 42, 1057–1064.
Gisin, N. 1984 Phys. Rev. Lett. 52, 1657–1660.
Gisin, N. 1989 Helv. Phys. Acta 62, 363–371.
Gisin, N. 1990 Phys. Lett. A 143, 1–2.
Gisin, N. 1993 J. Mod. Optics 40, 2313–2319.
Gisin, N., Knight, P. L., Percival, I. C., Thompson, R. C. & Wilson, D. C. 1993 167, 315–318.
Gisin, N. & Percival, I. C. 1992a The quantum state diffusion model applied to open systems. J. Phys. A 25, 5677–5691. Reference GP1.
Gisin, N. & Percival, I. C. 1992b Phys. Lett. A 167, 315–318.
Gisin, N. & Percival, I. C. 1993a Quantum state diffusion, localisation and quantum dispersion entropy. J. Phys. A 26, 2233–2244. Reference GP2.
Gisin, N. & Percival, I. C. 1993b The quantum state diffusion picture of physical processes. J. Phys. A 26, 2245–2260. Reference GP3.
Gisin, N. & Percival, I. C. 1993c Phys. Lett. A 175, 144–145.
Goetsch P and Graham R 1993 Ann. d. Physik 2 706.
Hawking, S. 1982 Commun. Math. Phys. 87, 395–415.
Holland, P. R. 1993 The Quantum Theory of Motion Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kârolyhâzy, F. 1966 Nuo. Cim. A 42, 390–402.
Kasevich, M., & Chu, S. 1991 Phys. Rev. Letts. 67, 181–184.
Lindblad, G. 1976 Commun. Math. Phys. 48, 119–130.
Milburn, G. J. 1991 Phys. Rev. A 44, 5401–5406.
Pearle, P. 1976 Phys. Rev. D 13, 857–868.
Pearle, P. 1979 Internat. J. Theor. Phys. 18, 489–518.
Penrose, R. & Isham, C. J. (eds) 1986 Quantum Concepts in Space and Time Oxford: Clarenden, Oxford Science Publications. Several articles give the Planck mass: Shimony p182, Károlyházy et al p109.
Penrose, R. 1986 In Penrose & Isham (1986) 129–146.
Percival, I. C. 1989 Diffusion of Quantum States 2, Preprint QMC DYN 89–4, School of Mathematics, Queen Mary College London.
Percival, I. C. 1992 In Quantum Chaos, Quantum Measurement. NATO ASI Series C: Math. Phys. Sci. 357 eds Cvitanovic, P., Percival, I. C. & Wirzba, A., Dordrecht: Kluwer 199–204.
Percival, I. C. 1994a Localisation of wide open quantum systems. J. Phys. A 27, 1003–1020. Reference Pet.
Percival, I.C. 1994b Primary state diffusion. Proc. Roy. Soc. A 447, 189–209. Reference Pel.
Salama, Y. & Gisin, N. 1993 Phys. Letts. A 181, 269–275.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Percival, I.C. (1995). Environmental and Primary Quantum State Diffusion. In: Belavkin, V.P., Hirota, O., Hudson, R.L. (eds) Quantum Communications and Measurement. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1391-3_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1391-3_25
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1393-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1391-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive