Time evolution of the wave packet of a continuously observed free quantum particle

Citation
P. Staszewski et G. Staszewska, Time evolution of the wave packet of a continuously observed free quantum particle, PHYS REV A, 60(1), 1999, pp. 687-691
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW A
ISSN journal
10502947 → ACNP
Volume
60
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
687 - 691
Database
ISI
SICI code
1050-2947(199907)60:1<687:TEOTWP>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
Recently, the stochastic nonlinear wave equation describing the dynamics of an observed quantum system has been solved for a free particle [Phys. Rev. A 45, 1347 (1992)]. In this paper, transient effects that occur during a c ontinuous observation of the particle position are discussed. It is shown t hat the dispersion of the Gaussian wave packet of the particle always decre ases in the beginning of the observation, then takes the form of oscillatio ns which, after a short time, decay rapidly to the asymptotic value.