Pure-State Quantum Trajectories for General Non-Markovian Systems Do Not Exist

2008/06/30 by Howard M. Wiseman, J. M. Gambetta, Jay Gambetta · 7 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.140401

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 140401 (2008) · 4 pages

arxiv created 2008/09/30 · openalex publication_date 2008/09/30 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Since the first derivation of non-Markovian stochastic Schrödinger equations, their interpretation has been contentious. In a recent Letter [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 080401 (2008)10.1103/Phys. Rev. Lett.100.080401], Diósi claimed to prove that they generate "true single system trajectories [conditioned on] continuous measurement." In this Letter, we show that his proof is fundamentally flawed: the solution to his non-Markovian stochastic Schrödinger equation at any particular time can be interpreted as a conditioned state, but joining up these solutions as a trajectory creates a fiction.

Citations

• Non-Markovian Quantum State Diffusion
• Genuine quantum trajectories for non-Markovian processes
• Spin squeezing via quantum feedback
• Adaptive Homodyne Measurement of Optical Phase

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