Estimating the reduction time of quantum states

TL;DR

This paper proposes a scheme to estimate the time scale of wave function collapse by attempting a forbidden simultaneous measurement of incompatible observables, providing insights into collapse dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to infer the collapse time scale using an imperfect measurement scheme involving incompatible observables.

Findings

The scheme can detect a non-zero collapse time scale $oldsymbol{elta t}$.

It demonstrates that information about collapse dynamics can be obtained even with large measurement durations.

The approach offers a new way to study the temporal aspects of wave function collapse.

Abstract

An effective description of microscopic measurements is given, in which the precise moment of probing is not determined. Within this scenario we propose a scheme that relies on an "attempt" to make a forbidden simultaneous measurement of two incompatible observables. Although bound to failure in what concerns this goal, the process can lead to information on a possible non-vanishing time scale $\delta t$ involved in the collapsing of the wave function, even if the duration $\Delta t$ of the individual measurements is much larger than $\delta t$.