On Arthur Fine's solution to the measurement problem

Arthur Fine has recently proposed a novel solution to the measurement problem. Fine's innovation is to exploit the idea that a measurement is a selective interaction in which the apparatus responds to a probability distribution. I develop Fine's solution in some detail, responding to various potential objections along the way. In the end, however, I suggest that Fine needs to tell us more before we can declare the measurement problem solved.     

Protective measurement and quantum reality

It is shown that from the expectation values of obervables, which can be measured for a single system using protective measurements, the linear structure, inner product, and observables in the Hilbert space can be reconstructed. A universal method of measuring the wave function of a single particle using its gravitational field is given. Protective measurement is generalized to the measurement of a degenerate state and to many particle systems. The question of whether the wave function is real is examined, and an argument of Einstein in favor of the ensemble interpretation of quantum theory is refuted.     

The quantum measurement problem and selection of classical states

The problem of selection of preferred basis during passage from quantum to classical systems is treated with the help of a simple example of a 2-state system like the sugar molecule. A simple principle leading to this selection is stated and demonstrated in case of the chosen example. The principle, stated simply is that the preferred basis is the one in which the system environment interaction hamiltonian is diagonal. Talk given at the International Symposium on Theoretical Physics, Bangalore, November 1984.     

Energy-level statistics of model quantum systems: Universality and scaling in a lattice-point problem

We investigate the statistics of the numberN(R, S) of lattice pointsnZ ², in an annular domain (R, w)=(R+w)A\RA, whereR, w>0. HereA is a fixed convex set with smooth boundary andw is chosen so that the area of (R, w) isS. The statistics comes fromR being taken as random (with a smooth density) in some interval [c ₁ T,c ₂,T],c ₂>c ₁>0. We find that in the limitT the variance and distribution of N=N(R; S)–S depend strongly on howS grows withT. There is a saturation regimeS/T, asT, in which the fluctuations in N coming from the two boundaries of are independent. Then there is a scaling regime,S/Tz, 0<z<, in which the distribution depends onz in an almost periodic way going to a Gaussian asz0. The variance in this limit approachesz for genericA, but can be larger for degenerate cases. The former behavior is what one would expect from the Poisson limit of a distribution for annuli of finite area.     

Improved locality-sensitive hashing method for the approximate nearest neighbor problem

In recent years, the nearest neighbor search(NNS) problem has been widely used in various interesting applications.Locality-sensitive hashing(LSH), a popular algorithm for the approximate nearest neighbor problem, is proved to be an efficient method to solve the NNS problem in the high-dimensional and large-scale databases. Based on the scheme of p-stable LSH, this paper introduces a novel improvement algorithm called randomness-based locality-sensitive hashing(RLSH) based on p-stable LSH. Our proposed algorithm modifies the query strategy that it randomly selects a certain hash table to project the query point instead of mapping the query point into all hash tables in the period of the nearest neighbor query and reconstructs the candidate points for finding the nearest neighbors. This improvement strategy ensures that RLSH spends less time searching for the nearest neighbors than the p-stable LSH algorithm to keep a high recall. Besides, this strategy is proved to promote the diversity of the candidate points even with fewer hash tables. Experiments are executed on the synthetic dataset and open dataset. The results show that our method can cost less time consumption and less space requirements than the p-stable LSH while balancing the same recall.     

Measuring fluorescence to track a quantum emitter's state: a theory review

We review the continuous monitoring of a qubit through its spontaneous emission, at an introductory level. Contemporary experiments have been able to collect the fluorescence of an artificial atom in a cavity and transmission line, and then make measurements of that emission to obtain diffusive quantum trajectories in the qubit's state. We give a straightforward theoretical overview of such scenarios, using a framework based on Kraus operators derived from a Bayesian update concept; we apply this flexible framework across common types of measurements including photodetection, homodyne, and heterodyne monitoring and illustrate its equivalence to the stochastic master equation formalism throughout. Special emphasis is given to homodyne (phase-sensitive) monitoring of fluorescence. The examples we develop are used to illustrate basic methods in quantum trajectories, but also to introduce some more advanced topics of contemporary interest, including the arrow of time in quantum measurement, and trajectories following optimal measurement records derived from a variational principle. The derivations we perform lead directly from the development of a simple model to an understanding of recent experimental results.     

Number-resolved master equation approach to quantum measurement and quantum transport

In addition to the well-known Landauer–Büttiker scattering theory and the nonequilibrium Green’s function technique for mesoscopic transports, an alternative (and very useful) scheme is quantum master equation approach. In this article, we review the particle-number (n)-resolved master equation (n-ME) approach and its systematic applications in quantum measurement and quantum transport problems. The n-ME contains rich dynamical information, allowing efficient study of topics such as shot noise and full counting statistics analysis. Moreover, we also review a newly developed master equation approach (and its n-resolved version) under self-consistent Born approximation. The application potential of this new approach is critically examined via its ability to recover the exact results for noninteracting systems under arbitrary voltage and in presence of strong quantum interference, and the challenging non-equilibrium Kondo effect.     

Measurement error and the Albert-Loewer problem

Modal interpretations of QM have the welcome consequence that unitarily evolved post-measurement states which superpose eigenstates of the anticipated pointer observable can represent devices registering determinate measurement outcomes. Albert and Loewer have claimed that modal interpretations cannot account for the outcomes of error-prone measurements. But Albert, Loewer, and their commentators have not always appreciated the relation of measurement error to the Albert-Loewer problem. I argue that measurement error is neither necessary nor sufficient to generate the Albert-Loewer problem, and use the Araki-Yanase theorem to show that measurements of a large class of observables, if they are error-free, are beset by the Albert-Loewer problem.     

Enhancing the precision of phase estimation by weak measurement and quantum measurement reversal

The enhancement of the precision of phase estimation in quantum metrology is investigated by employing weak measurement （WM） and quantum measurement reversal （QMR）. We derive the exact expressions of the optimal quantum Fisher information （QFI） and success probability of phase estimation for an exactly solving model consisting of a qubit interacting with a structured reservoir. We show that the QFI can be obviously enhanced by means of the WM and QMR in different regimes. In addition, we also show that the magnitude of the decoherence involved in the WM and QMR can be a general complex number, which extends the applicable scope of the WM and QMR approach.     

‘Counterfactual’ interpretation of the quantum measurement process

The question of the determination of the state of the system during a measurement experiment is discussed within quantum theory, as a part of the more general measurement’s problem. I propose a counterfactual interpretation of the measurement process which answers the question from a conceptual point of view. This interpretation turns out to be consistent with the predictions of quantum theory, but it presents difficulties from an operational point of view.     

Increasing the efficiency of post-selection in direct measurement of the quantum wave function

Direct weak or strong measurement of quantum wave function based on post-selections has been widely explored; however, the efficiency of the measurement is heavily limited by the success probability of post-selection. Here we propose a modified scheme to directly measure photon's wave function by simply inserting a liquid crystal plate before the post-selection stage. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our modified method can significantly increase the efficiency of post selection. Our proposal would speed up the quantum wave function measurement with high resolution and high fidelity.     

Quantum dynamics, measurement and entropy

The aim of this paper is to present a line of ideas, centred around entropy production andquantum dynamics, emerging from von Neumann's work on foundations of quantum mechanics and leading to current research. The concepts of measurement, dynamical evolution and entropy were central in J. von Neumann's work. Further developments led to the introduction of generalized measurements in terms of positive operator-valued measures, closely connected to the theory of open systems. Fundamental properties of quantum entropy were derived and Kolmogorov and Sinai related the chaotic properties of classical dynamical systems with asymptotic entropy production. Finally, entropy production in quantum dynamical systems was linked with repeated measurement processes and a whole research area on nonequilibrium phenomena in quantum dynamical systems seems to emerge.     

原子的选择测量对原子纠缠特性和场熵的影响*

考虑初始处于W态的三个二能级原子,将其中两个原子同时注入处于真空态的单模腔中,并与光场发生共振相互作用的情况。采用数值计算方法,通过对是否进行原子态选择性测量情况下,腔内原子间的纠缠性质和场熵的比较,讨论了对腔外原子的态选择性测量对腔内原子间的纠缠性质和场熵演化的影响。研究结果表明：对腔外原子的选择性测量,可增强腔内原子间的纠缠,但会减弱腔內原子与光场的关联。     

There Is No Spooky Action at a Distance in Quantum Mechanics

Einstein became bothered by quantum mechanical action at a distance within two years of Schrödinger’s introduction of his eponymous wave equation. If the wave function represents the “real” physical state of a particle, then the measurement of the particle’s position would result in the instantaneous collapse of the wave function to the single, measured position. Such a process seemingly violates not only the Schrödinger equation but also special relativity. Einstein was not alone in this vexation; however, the dilemma eventually faded as physicists concentrated on using the Schrödinger equation to solve a plethora of pressing problems. For the next 30 years, wave function collapse, while occasionally discussed by physicists, was primarily a topic of interest for philosophers. That is, until 1964, when Bell introduced his famous inequality and maintained that its violation proved that quantum mechanics and, by implication, nature herself are nonlocal. Unfortunately, this brought the topic back to mainstream physics, where it has remained and continues to muddy the waters. To be sure, not all physicists are bothered by the apparent nonlocality of quantum mechanics. So where have those who embrace quantum nonlocality gone wrong? I argue that the answer is a gratuitous belief in the ontic nature of the quantum state.     

量子算法核磁共振实现脉冲序列设计程序问题研究

从两量子位核磁共振量子处理器物理模型出发,利用Raedt小组提出的自旋-1/2代数理论,根据量子控制非门的定义及Grover量子算法原理,介绍了量子控制非门的4种不同脉冲序列及两量子位Grover量子算法的两种不同脉冲序列的设计过程,通过数值求解含时薛定谔方程模拟量子控制非门和两量子位Grover量子算法,等价于执行量...     

Coordinate Formalism on Abstract Hilbert Space: Kinematics of a Quantum Measurement

Coordinate form of tensor algebra on an abstract (infinite-dimensional) Hilbert space is presented. The developed formalism permits one to naturally include the improper states in the apparatus of quantum theory. In the formalism the observables are represented by the self-adjoint extensions of Hermitian operators. The unitary operators become linear isometries. The unitary evolution and the non-unitary collapse processes are interpreted as isometric functional transformations. Several experiments are analyzed in the new context.     

光的量子相干性与光频率的超精密测量--2005年诺贝尔物理学奖评述

2005年的诺贝尔物理学奖授予了现代光学领域的科学家，其中诺贝尔奖的一半授予了哈佛大学的Roy J．Glauber教授，以表彰他在光的量子相干性理论方面的突出贡献，诺贝尔奖的另外一半授予了美国科罗拉多大学与美国国家标准技术研究院联合实验（JILA）的John L．Hall教授和德国慕尼黑大学教授、马克斯普朗克-量子光学研究所所长TheodorW．Hansch教授，以表彰他们在光的超高精密测量方面的突出贡献，文章介绍了三位诺贝奖得主的贡献及其意义．     

Preserving entanglement and the fidelity of three-qubit quantum states undergoing decoherence using weak measurement

We demonstrate a method to preserve entanglement and improve fidelity of three-qubit quantum states undergoing amplitude-damping decoherence using weak measurement and quantum measurement reversal. It is shown that we are able to enhance entanglement to the greatest extent, and to circumvent entanglement sudden death by increasing the weak measurement strength both for the GHZ state and the W state. The weak measurement technique can also enhance the fidelity to the quantum region and even close to 1 for the whole range of the decoherence parameter in both of the two cases. In addition, the W state can maintain more fidelity than the GHZ state in the protection protocol. However, the GHZ state has a higher success probability than the W state.     

Single-mode photon number measurement for the squeezed two-mode number state

Based on the fact that a two-mode squeezed number state is a two-variable Hermite polynomial excitation of the two-mode squeezed vacuum state, the result of one-mode l-photon measurement for the two-mode squeezed number state $S_2|m,n\rangle$ is discussed. It is found that a remaining field-mode simultaneously collapses into a number state $|n-m+l\rangle$ with the coefficient being a Jacobi polynomial of n, m and l, which manifestly exhibits the entanglement between the two modes, i.e. it depends on the number-difference between the two modes. The second mode collapses into an excited coherent state when the first mode is measured as a coherent state.