TIME-REVERSAL SYMMETRY AND HUMPTY-DUMPTY

Authors
ENGLERT BG
Citation
Bg. Englert, TIME-REVERSAL SYMMETRY AND HUMPTY-DUMPTY, Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. A, A journal of physical sciences, 52(1-2), 1997, pp. 13-14
Citations number
4
Categorie Soggetti
Chemistry Physical",Physics
Journal title
Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. A, A journal of physical sciences → ACNP
ISSN journal
09320784
Volume
52
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1997
Pages
13 - 14
Database
ISI
SICI code
0932-0784(1997)52:1-2<13:TSAH>2.0.ZU;2-G
Abstract
It is argued that the quantal evolution of a physical system is fundam entally irreversible although the dynamical equations are symmetric un der time reversal. The example of spin coherence in a Stern-Gerlach in terferometer demonstrates that even undoing the evolution partially on ly may require sub-microscopic precision in controlling a macroscopic apparatus.