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Quantum jumps revisited: An overview of quantum trajectory theory

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Quantum Future From Volta and Como to the Present and Beyond

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 517))

Abstract

The quantum trajectory theory of photon scattering in quantum optics is reviewed. Two features of the theory which bear closely on issues of interpretation in quantum mechanics are emphasized: (1) there exist different unravellings of a scattering process which reveal complementary aspects of the dynamics in the interaction region, and (2) through the making of records via a stochastic implementation of a formalized quantum jump a self-consistent interface between a quantum evolution (in Hilbert space) and a classical evolution for the records (time series of real numbers) is achieved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Oregon, 97403-1274, Eugene, Oregon

    H. J. Carmichael

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  1. H. J. Carmichael
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Philippe Blanchard Arkadiusz Jadczyk

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag

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Carmichael, H.J. (1999). Quantum jumps revisited: An overview of quantum trajectory theory. In: Blanchard, P., Jadczyk, A. (eds) Quantum Future From Volta and Como to the Present and Beyond. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 517. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0105336

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0105336

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-65218-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49482-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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