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Temporal Ordering in Quantum Mechanics

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Paper breakdownThe authors' claims, conditions and measurements, as JSON Signed receiptProof this review has not been altered
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J. Oppenheim, B. Reznik, W. Unruh

Quantum Physics · Submitted 29 Mar 2000

abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review

The authors' main claim In quantum mechanics, we find that diffraction effects introduce a minimum inaccuracy to which the temporal order-of-arrival can be determined unambiguously.

how it is stated · asserted 1.00 read the record →

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arXiv IDquant-ph/0003130 (version 2)
Pith IDVXPZR73F, Pith's permanent record of this paper and its review
CitationB. Reznik, J. Oppenheim, W. Unruh. "Temporal Ordering in Quantum Mechanics." arXiv:quant-ph/0003130 (2000). https://pith.science/paper/VXPZR73F
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The compiled record

The paper's own sentences, arranged. Each label is drawn from a closed vocabulary; the number beside it is the probability the classifier gave that label. Numbers in the tables are the authors', checked by code. No sentence in this record was written by a model.

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Compiled by classifier-1.13.0 via TypeSafe API, question bank abstract-p1-20260923, 2026-09-23: 1 request, 4,826 input tokens.

What the abstract itself states, as probabilities: claims first 0.03 · states limitation 0.77 · human participants 0.02 · controlled comparison 0.08 · randomized assignment 0.01 · states quantitative result 0.95 · compares with prior results 0.81 · mentions code or data availability 0.01.

The abstract, sentence by sentence

arXiv listing abstract v2. Results and the main claim are underlined; .

We examine the measurability of the temporal ordering of two events, as well as event coincidences. In classical mechanics, a measurement of the order-of-arrival of two particles is shown to be equivalent to a measurement involving only one particle (in higher dimensions). In quantum mechanics, we find that diffraction effects introduce a minimum inaccuracy to which the temporal order-of-arrival can be determined unambiguously. The minimum inaccuracy of the measurement is given by dt=1/E where E is the total kinetic energy of the two particles. Similar restrictions apply to the case of coincidence measurements. We show that these limitations are much weaker than limitations on measuring the time-of-arrival of a particle to a fixed location.

background contribution method result interpretation main claim

What the classifier reports for each sentence. The number is the probability it gave the label.
#sentencerolethe authors' own workstates the main conclusionstrength
s0 We examine the measurability of the temporal ordering of two events, as well as event coincidences. contribution 0.89 0.77 0.06 unclear 0.58
s1 In classical mechanics, a measurement of the order-of-arrival of two particles is shown to be equivalent to a measurement involving only one particle (in higher dimensions). result 0.57 0.66 0.07 asserted 1.00
s2 In quantum mechanics, we find that diffraction effects introduce a minimum inaccuracy to which the temporal order-of-arrival can be determined unambiguously. result 0.99 0.91 0.41 asserted 1.00
s3 The minimum inaccuracy of the measurement is given by dt=1/E where E is the total kinetic energy of the two particles. result 1.00 0.87 0.41 asserted 1.00
s4 Similar restrictions apply to the case of coincidence measurements. result 0.96 0.69 0.07 asserted 0.93
s5 We show that these limitations are much weaker than limitations on measuring the time-of-arrival of a particle to a fixed location. result 0.55 0.90 0.36 asserted 1.00

What kind of paper the classifier reports this is: theoretical result 1.00 · evidence from proof or derivation 1.00.

What was examined, and what was not

sources read
  • arXiv listing abstract v2
not examined
  • full text
  • figures and tables
  • references and citing sentences
  • relations to other papers
levels run
  • P abstract
not run
  • S sections
  • T body sentences
  • C citations
  • R cross-paper relations

Every quoted sentence on this record is the authors'. Every label is from Pith's closed vocabulary, with the probability shown beside it. Every number in the measurements table is the authors', checked by code. Record as JSON

The paper
Original abstract

We examine the measurability of the temporal ordering of two events, as well as event coincidences. In classical mechanics, a measurement of the order-of-arrival of two particles is shown to be equivalent to a measurement involving only one particle (in higher dimensions). In quantum mechanics, we find that diffraction effects introduce a minimum inaccuracy to which the temporal order-of-arrival can be determined unambiguously. The minimum inaccuracy of the measurement is given by dt=1/E where E is the total kinetic energy of the two particles. Similar restrictions apply to the case of coincidence measurements. We show that these limitations are much weaker than limitations on measuring the time-of-arrival of a particle to a fixed location.

Human review

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How the literature uses it

1 arXiv paper cite this in 1 sentence

Each citing sentence is taken from the citing paper's LaTeX source and typed by Pith's classifier. A label appears at probability 0.8 or more (0.95 for support), a contest at 0.7 or more; the quoted words are the citing authors'. How each label was checked · JSON

Papers citing it

Cites it as background 1 paper
  • References include: [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] , [ref] .

    Quantum Time · Quantum Mechanics · 0.98

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