Does the weak trace show the past of a quantum particle in an unperturbed system
Year: 2021
Type: preprint
Abstract: We investigate the weak trace method for determining the path of a quantum particle in an unperturbed system. Specifically, looking at nested interferometer experiments, when internal interferometers are tuned to destructive interference, we show that the weak trace method gives misleading results. This is because the methods used experimentally to obtain the weak value of the position operator necessarily perturb the system, hence, in some cases the assumption that weak coupling being equivalent to no coupling is incorrect. Experiments performed that are claimed to support the interpretation simply show the effects of this coupling acting as measurement, rather than tapping into the underlying reality of what happens in a quantum system when no-one is looking.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Jonte R. Hance, John Rarity, James Ladyman
Institution: University of Bristol
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3203813521