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At what time does a quantum experiment have a result?

Pashby, Thomas (2016) At what time does a quantum experiment have a result? [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper provides a general method for defining a generalized quantum observable (or POVM) that supplies properly normalized conditional probabilities for the time of occurrence (i.e., of detection). This method treats the time of occurrence as a probabilistic variable whose value is to be determined by experiment and predicted by the Born rule. This avoids the problematic assumption that a question about the time at which an event occurs must be answered through instantaneous measurements of a projector by an observer, common to both Rovelli (1998) and Oppenheim et al. (2000). I also address the interpretation of experiments purporting to demonstrate the quantum Zeno effect, used by Oppenheim et al. (2000) to justify an inherent uncertainty for measurements of times.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Pashby, Thomastom.pashby@gmail.com
Keywords: time observable, quantum mechanics, measurement, POVMs, event time observable, quantum zeno
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User: Dr. Thomas Pashby
Date Deposited: 29 Jun 2016 00:32
Last Modified: 29 Jun 2016 00:32
Item ID: 12031
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date: 2016
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12031

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