Pointer basis of quantum apparatus: Into what mixture does the wave packet collapse?

1981/09/15 by Wojciech H. Zurek · 7 citations
Physics and Astronomy · Computer Science · #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

paper · doi:10.1103/physrevd.24.1516

openalex publication_date 1981/09/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

The form of the interaction Hamiltonian between the apparatus and its environment is sufficient to determine which observable of the measured quantum system can be considered "recorded" by the apparatus. The basis that contains this record---the pointer basis of the apparatus---consists of the eigenvectors of the operator which commutes with the apparatus-environment interaction Hamiltonian. Thus the environment can be said to perform a nondemolition measurement of an observable diagonal in the pointer basis.

Citations

• Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?
• Unperformed experiments have no results

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• Self-locating Uncertainty and the Origin of Probability in Everettian Quantum Mechanics
• Degree of entanglement in a quantum-measurement process
• Collapse of the state vector
• Solving differential‐algebraic equations in power system dynamic analysis with quantum computing
• Copenhagen interpretation [wikipedia]