Timing the moment when atom decays (and Schroedinger's cat dies)

TL;DR

This paper explores a method to detect the exact moment an atom decays using a macroscopic clock, analyzing implications for quantum measurement and Schrödinger's cat paradox.

Contribution

It introduces a nearly classical clock-based approach to measure atom decay timing and discusses its implications for quantum measurement theory.

Findings

Detection accuracy depends on clock precision and photon energy range

Implications for the Schrödinger's cat paradox are discussed

Feasibility of macroscopic clock measurements in quantum events

Abstract

We propose detecting the moment an atom emits a photon by means of a nearly classical macroscopic clock and discuss its viability. It is shown that what happens in such a measurement depends on the relation between the clock's accuracy and the width of the energy range available to the photon. Implications of the analysis for the long standing Schroedinger's cat problem are reported.