The Quantum Zeno Effect - Evolution of an Atom Impeded by Measurement

The evolution of a quantum system is supposed to be impeded by measurement of an involved observable. This effect has been proven indistinguishable from the effect of dephasing the system's wave function, except in an individual quantum system. The coherent dynamics, on an optical E2 line, of a single trapped ion driven by light of negligible phase drift has been alternated with interrogations of the internal ion state. Retardation of the ion's nutation, equivalent to the quantum Zeno effect, is demonstrated in the statistics of sequences of probe-light scattering ''on'' and ''off'' detections, the latter representing back-action-free measurement.