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Zeno and anti-Zeno effects for photon polarization dephasing
Quantum Physics · Submitted 19 Nov 2000
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim This control can yield either the inhibition (Zeno effect) or the acceleration (anti-Zeno effect) of the quasi-exponential decay of the observed state by means of frequent measurements.
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The abstract, sentence by sentence
We discuss a simple, experimentally feasible scheme, which elucidates the principles of controlling ("engineering") the reservoir spectrum and the spectral broadening incurred by repeated measurements. This control can yield either the inhibition (Zeno effect) or the acceleration (anti-Zeno effect) of the quasi-exponential decay of the observed state by means of frequent measurements. In the discussed scheme, a photon is bouncing back and forth between two perfect mirrors, each time passing a polarization rotator. The horizontal and vertical polarizations can be viewed as analogs of an excited and a ground state of a two level system (TLS). A polarization beam splitter and an absorber for the vertically polarized photon are inserted between the mirrors, and effect measurements of the polarization. The polarization angle acquired in the electrooptic polarization rotator can fluctuate randomly, e.g., via noisy modulation. In the absence of an absorber the polarization randomization corresponds to TLS decay into an infinite-temperature reservoir. The non-Markovian nature of the decay stems from the many round-trips required for the randomization. We consider the influence of the polarization measurements by the absorber on this non-Markovian decay, and develop a theory of the Zeno and anti-Zeno effects in this system.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | We discuss a simple, experimentally feasible scheme, which elucidates the principles of controlling ("engineering") the reservoir spectrum and the spectral broadening incurred by repeated measurements. | contribution 0.97 | 0.64 | 0.11 | asserted 0.97 |
| s1 | This control can yield either the inhibition (Zeno effect) or the acceleration (anti-Zeno effect) of the quasi-exponential decay of the observed state by means of frequent measurements. | result 0.59 | 0.39 | 0.61 | hedged possibility 0.86 |
| s2 | In the discussed scheme, a photon is bouncing back and forth between two perfect mirrors, each time passing a polarization rotator. | method 0.92 | 0.25 | 0.03 | asserted 1.00 |
| s3 | The horizontal and vertical polarizations can be viewed as analogs of an excited and a ground state of a two level system (TLS). | method 0.56 | 0.28 | 0.03 | asserted 0.54 |
| s4 | A polarization beam splitter and an absorber for the vertically polarized photon are inserted between the mirrors, and effect measurements of the polarization. | method 0.98 | 0.44 | 0.04 | asserted 0.96 |
| s5 | The polarization angle acquired in the electrooptic polarization rotator can fluctuate randomly, e.g., via noisy modulation. | method 0.96 | 0.26 | 0.02 | hedged possibility 0.91 |
| s6 | In the absence of an absorber the polarization randomization corresponds to TLS decay into an infinite-temperature reservoir. | interpretation 0.75 | 0.44 | 0.05 | asserted 0.99 |
| s7 | The non-Markovian nature of the decay stems from the many round-trips required for the randomization. | interpretation 0.54 | 0.44 | 0.05 | asserted 1.00 |
| s8 | We consider the influence of the polarization measurements by the absorber on this non-Markovian decay, and develop a theory of the Zeno and anti-Zeno effects in this system. | contribution 1.00 | 0.93 | 0.25 | asserted 0.98 |
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Original abstract
We discuss a simple, experimentally feasible scheme, which elucidates the principles of controlling ("engineering") the reservoir spectrum and the spectral broadening incurred by repeated measurements. This control can yield either the inhibition (Zeno effect) or the acceleration (anti-Zeno effect) of the quasi-exponential decay of the observed state by means of frequent measurements. In the discussed scheme, a photon is bouncing back and forth between two perfect mirrors, each time passing a polarization rotator. The horizontal and vertical polarizations can be viewed as analogs of an excited and a ground state of a two level system (TLS). A polarization beam splitter and an absorber for the vertically polarized photon are inserted between the mirrors, and effect measurements of the polarization. The polarization angle acquired in the electrooptic polarization rotator can fluctuate randomly, e.g., via noisy modulation. In the absence of an absorber the polarization randomization corresponds to TLS decay into an infinite-temperature reservoir. The non-Markovian nature of the decay stems from the many round-trips required for the randomization. We consider the influence of the polarization measurements by the absorber on this non-Markovian decay, and develop a theory of the Zeno and anti-Zeno effects in this system.
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