Retrodiction with two-level atoms: atomic previvals

Barnett, S.M. and Pegg, D. and Jeffers, J. (2002) Retrodiction with two-level atoms: atomic previvals. Journal of Modern Optics, 49 (7). pp. 1175-1184. ISSN 0950-0340 (https://doi.org/10.1080/09500340110100592)

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Abstract

In the Jaynes-Cummings model a two-level atom interacts with a single-mode electromagnetic field. Quantum mechanics predicts collapses and revivals in the probability that a measurement will show the atom to be excited at various times after the initial preparation of the atom and field. In retrodictive quantum mechanics we seek the probability that the atom was prepared in a particular state given the initial state of the field and the outcome of a later measurement on the atom. Although this is not simply the time reverse of the usual predictive problem, we demonstrate in this paper that retrodictive collapses and revivals also exist. We highlight the differences between predictive and retrodictive evolutions and describe an interesting situation where the prepared state is essentially unretrodictable.

ORCID iDs

Barnett, S.M., Pegg, D. and Jeffers, J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8573-1675;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:6154
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    15 June 2002
    Published
    Keywords:optics, physics, atom, atomic, quantum, quantum mechanics, probability, Jaynes-Cummings, electromagnetic, Optics. Light, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
    Subjects:Science > Physics > Optics. Light
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Miss Darcy Spiller
    Date deposited:16 May 2008
    Last modified:25 May 2023 08:58
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/6154
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