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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.05591 |
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| _version_ | 1866910295551639552 |
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| author | Anastopoulos, Charis Plakitsi, Maria-Electra |
| author_facet | Anastopoulos, Charis Plakitsi, Maria-Electra |
| contents | We analyze time-of-arrival probability distributions for relativistic particles in the context of quantum field theory (QFT). We show that QFT leads to a unique prediction, modulo post-selection that incorporates properties of the apparatus into the initial state. We also show that an experimental distinction of different probability assigments is possible especially in near-field measurements. We also analyze causality in relativistic measurements. We consider a quantum state obtained by a spacetime-localized operation on the vacuum, and we show that detection probabilities are typically characterized by small transient non-causal terms. We explain that these terms originate from Feynman-propagation of the initial operation, because the Feynman propagator does not vanish outside the light-cone. We discuss possible ways to restore causality, and we argue that this may not be possible in measurement models that involve switching the field-apparatus coupling on and off. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2210_05591 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Relativistic time-of-arrival measurements: predictions, post-selection and causality problem Anastopoulos, Charis Plakitsi, Maria-Electra Quantum Physics We analyze time-of-arrival probability distributions for relativistic particles in the context of quantum field theory (QFT). We show that QFT leads to a unique prediction, modulo post-selection that incorporates properties of the apparatus into the initial state. We also show that an experimental distinction of different probability assigments is possible especially in near-field measurements. We also analyze causality in relativistic measurements. We consider a quantum state obtained by a spacetime-localized operation on the vacuum, and we show that detection probabilities are typically characterized by small transient non-causal terms. We explain that these terms originate from Feynman-propagation of the initial operation, because the Feynman propagator does not vanish outside the light-cone. We discuss possible ways to restore causality, and we argue that this may not be possible in measurement models that involve switching the field-apparatus coupling on and off. |
| title | Relativistic time-of-arrival measurements: predictions, post-selection and causality problem |
| topic | Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.05591 |