Quantum State Reduction by Matter-Phase-Related Measurements in Optical Lattices

TL;DR

This paper explores how measuring matter-phase-related variables in atomic systems coupled to light can induce quantum state reduction, offering new ways to influence system evolution beyond traditional density measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel measurement approach focusing on matter-phase variables, expanding the quantum measurement framework in many-body atomic systems.

Findings

Demonstrates measurement-induced state reduction via matter-phase measurements

Shows potential to control system evolution through unconventional measurement techniques

Extends the quantum measurement postulate to strong system-measurement competition

Abstract

A many-body atomic system coupled to quantized light is subject to weak measurement. Instead of coupling light to the on-site density, we consider the quantum backaction due to the measurement of matter-phase-related variables such as global phase coherence. We show how this unconventional approach opens up new opportunities to affect system evolution and demonstrate how this can lead to a new class of measurement projections, thus extending the measurement postulate for the case of strong competition with the system's own evolution.