Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Measurements |
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Authors: | Dmitri Sokolovski Daniel Alonso Ramirez Santiago Brouard Martin |
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Affiliation: | 1. Departmento de Química-Física, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Leioa, 48940 Spain;2. Departamento de Física y IUdEA, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain |
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Abstract: | Quantum mechanics, in its orthodox version, imposes severe limits on what can be known, or even said, about the condition of a quantum system between two observations. A relatively new approach, based on so-called “weak measurements”, suggests that such forbidden knowledge can be gained by studying the system's response to an inaccurate weakly perturbing measuring device. It goes further to propose revising the whole concept of physics variables, and offers various examples of counterintuitive quantum behavior. Both views go to the very heart of quantum theory, and yet are rarely compared directly. A new technique must either transcend the orthodox limits, or just prove that these limits are indeed necessary. Both possibilities are studied and orthodoxy is vindicated. |
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Keywords: | foundations of quantum theory quantum mechanics uncertainty principle |
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