Quantum correlation between a particle and potential well or barrier

TL;DR

This paper explores quantum correlations between a particle and potential wells or barriers, revealing how measurement induces state splitting and correlated interference effects in such systems.

Contribution

It introduces a method to calculate two-body quantum correlations involving a particle and potential structures, highlighting measurement-induced state splitting and interference.

Findings

Quantum correlations depend on measurement timing and position.

Measurement causes splitting of well or barrier substates.

Correlated interference arises from overlapping incident and reflected substates.

Abstract

A two-body quantum correlation is calculated for a particle and an infinite potential well in which it is trapped or either a barrier or finite well over which it traverses. Correlated interference results when the incident and reflected particle substates and their associated well or barrier substates overlap. Measurement of the particle in this region causes a splitting of the well or barrier substate at subsequent times. The joint probability density, which is a function both of the different positions and different times at which the particle and well or barrier are measured, is derived assuming that no interaction occurs between the time each is measured.