Quantum Measurement and Stochastic Processes in Mesoscopic Conductors

Abstract

In quantum measurement theory it is necessary to show how a quantum source conditions a classical stochastic record of measured results. We discuss mesoscopic conductance using quantum stochastic calculus to elucidate the quantum nature of the measurement taking place in these systems. To illustrate the method we derive the current fluctuations in a two terminal mesoscopic circuit with two tunnel barriers containing a single quasi bound state on the well. The method enables us to focus on either the incoming/ outgoing Fermi fields in the leads, or on the irreversible dynamics of the well state itself. We show an equivalence between the approach of Büttiker and the Fermi quantum stochastic calculus for mesoscopic systems.