A 20-minute divertimento: The quantum Zeno effect, from Von Neumann’s “Mathematical Foundations of QM” – and a classical analog


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By Matteo Cavalli Cavalli-Sforza (IFAE)

 

Description

The pre-Socratic sophist Zeno proved that motion phenomena are not real. His logical analysis was not debunked until calculus was invented.
Von Neumann proved that if a quantum system is measured often enough it can be frozen in its initial state – like Zeno’s famous arrow! (it’s a two-line proof).
A classical analog using polarization filters and very similar math allows to rotate the polarization of light with no loss of intensity.

 

Organized by

Marc Manera, Pere Masjuan, Stefano Terzo

 

Registration HERE