On a reinterpretation of decay experiments

✍ Scribed by H Ekstein; A.J.F Siegert

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1971
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 612 KB
• Volume: 68
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-4916
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-4916(71)90133-3

✦ Synopsis

Discussion of the basic formula conventionally used to interpret decay measurements shows that it is incompatible with the accepted physical interpretation of quantum mechanics. Two alternative theoretical correlates of the actual experiments are discussed. The first assumes a sequence of observations performed on the same object, each 'causing a collapse of the wave function. The second theory constructs a time-ofsojourn operator on the assumption that the protracted interaction between object and measurement apparatus is "gentle." The first theoretical formula is developed with the result that the decay probability shows an asymptotic decrease which is at least exponential, contrary to the conventional theory.

1. SEQUENCE OF OBSERVATIONS ON THE SAMPLE

The probability that an object that is in a resonance or decay state 9) at the time t = 0 will be found undecayed at the time t is given by or, more generally, by W'(t) = Tr peiHtP(0) eeiHf, (lb)

where p is the density operator at t = 0, H the Hamiltonian of the object, and P(0) the projection operator into the manifold of decay states.