Measurement of energy eigenstates by a slow detector.
We propose a method for a weak continuous measurement of the energy eigenstates of a fast quantum system by means of a slow detector. Such a detector is sensitive only to slowly changing variables, e.g., energy, while its backaction can be limited solely to decoherence of the eigenstate superpositions. We apply this scheme to the problem of detection of quantum jumps between energy eigenstates in a harmonic oscillator.
Martin
I
I
Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Zurek
W H
WH