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Observing the Progressive Decoherence of the “Meter” in a Quantum Measurement

M. Brune, E. Hagley, J. Dreyer, X. Maître, A. Maali, C. Wunderlich, J. M. Raimond, and S. Haroche
Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4887 – Published 9 December 1996
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Abstract

A mesoscopic superposition of quantum states involving radiation fields with classically distinct phases was created and its progressive decoherence observed. The experiment involved Rydberg atoms interacting one at a time with a few photon coherent field trapped in a high Q microwave cavity. The mesoscopic superposition was the equivalent of an “ atom+measuringapparatus” system in which the “meter” was pointing simultaneously towards two different directions—a “Schrödinger cat.” The decoherence phenomenon transforming this superposition into a statistical mixture was observed while it unfolded, providing a direct insight into a process at the heart of quantum measurement.

  • Received 10 September 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.4887

©1996 American Physical Society

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Nobel Prize—Tools for Quantum Tinkering

Published 12 October 2012

David Wineland and Serge Haroche, who studied photons and atoms in new ways, have won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics.

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Authors & Affiliations

M. Brune, E. Hagley, J. Dreyer, X. Maître, A. Maali, C. Wunderlich, J. M. Raimond, and S. Haroche

  • Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Département de Physique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, 24 Rue Lhomond, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France

References

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Issue

Vol. 77, Iss. 24 — 9 December 1996

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