2001/05/21 by Yakir Aharonov, Lev Vaidman, Aharonov, Yakir +1 · 5 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum chaos and dynamical systems #Scientific Research and Discoveries #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.quant-ph/0105101
48 pages, 5 eps fig. Updated version for new eddition of ``Time in Quantum Mechanics'', edited by J. G. Muga, R. Sala Mayato and I. L. Egusquiza
openalex publication_date 2001/05/21 · arxiv created 2007/06/10 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In this paper we present the two-state vector formalism of quantum mechanics. It is a time-symmetrized approach to standard quantum theory particularly helpful for the analysis of experiments performed on pre- and post-selected ensembles. Several peculiar effects which naturally arise in this approach are considered. In particular, the concept of ``weak measurements'' (standard measurements with weakening of the interaction) is discussed in depth revealing a very unusual but consistent picture. Also, a design of a gedanken experiment which implements a kind of quantum ``time machine'' is described. The issue of time-symmetry in the context of the two-state vector formalism is clarified.