Continuous and pulsed observations in the quantum Zeno effect

Abstract

The usual formulation of the quantum Zeno effect (QZE) uses a sequence of rapid observations to prevent change. The same effect can be achieved with continuous observation. For partial inhibition of change we provide a quantitative relation between pulsed (at intervals [Formula Presented]) and continuous (with response time [Formula Presented]) observations: the slowdown is the same for [Formula Presented] Including the continuous observer in the Hamiltonian gives an alternative view of the QZE, showing the appropriateness of the name “dominated time evolution.” Finally, the variation on the QZE in which a nonconstant sequence of projections can force change is also shown to be achievable by time-varying continuous observation. © 1998 The American Physical Society.