Quantum mechanics: new experiments, new applications, and new formulations of old questions

Some of the quantum mechanical conceptual problems, their current status, and related theoretical developments are reviewed. The characteristics of the entangled quantum states are analyzed, and new experiments and quantum information applications involving such states are discussed. The well-known paradox of Schroedinger’s cat (the impossibility of observing superpositions of macroscopically distinct states that are predicted by quantum mechanics) is discussed. It is shown that decoherence (arising when a quantum system is measured in such a way that some information about its state is recorded in its environment) prevents the distinguishing of a superposition and the corresponding mixture. This overcomes the difficulties associated with the paradoxical nature of quantum measurement provided we remain within the framework of the theory of open systems. Other conceptual difficulties, while actually lying outside physics, are now the subject of much research and have already led to new interesting interpretations of quantum mechanics. The suggestion of Wigner and others that the observer’s consciousness be included in the theory of quantum measurement is discussed in this context. A hypothesis is put forward which might enable the functioning of consciousness to be described in quantum measurement terms.

PACS: 03.65.Bz
DOI: 10.1070/PU2000v043n06ABEH000771
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2000/6/c/
Web of Science

000165057200003
Citation: Menskii M B "Quantum mechanics: new experiments, new applications, and new formulations of old questions" Phys. Usp. 43 585–600 (2000)

BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks

Оригинал: Менский М Б «Квантовая механика: новые эксперименты, новые приложения и новые формулировки старых вопросов» УФН 170 631–648 (2000); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0170.200006c.0631

References (55) Cited by (41) Similar articles (20) ↓

M.B. Menskii “Decoherence and the theory of continuous quantum measurements” 41 923–940 (1998)
M.B. Menskii “Concept of consciousness in the context of quantum mechanics” 48 389–409 (2005)
S.Ya. Kilin “Quantum information” 42 435–452 (1999)
D.N. Klyshko “Basic quantum mechanical concepts from the operational viewpoint” 41 885–922 (1998)
K.A. Valiev “Quantum computers and quantum computations” 48 1–36 (2005)
I.V. Bargatin, B.A. Grishanin, V.N. Zadkov “Entangled quantum states of atomic systems” 44 597–616 (2001)
M.B. Menskii “Dissipation and decoherence in quantum systems” 46 1163–1182 (2003)
A.V. Belinskii, D.N. Klyshko “Interference of light and Bell’s theorem” 36 (8) 653–693 (1993)
M.D. Frank-Kamenetskii, A.V. Lukashin “Electron-vibrational interactions in polyatomic molecules” 18 391–409 (1975)
Yu.E. Perlin “Modern methods in the theory of many-phonon processes” 6 542–565 (1964)
A.A. Grib “Bell’s inequalities and experimental verification of quantum correlations at macroscopic distances” 27 284–293 (1984)
A.L. Fradkov “Application of cybernetic methods in physics” 48 103–127 (2005)
D.I. Blokhintsev “Classical statistical physics and quantum mechanics” 20 683–690 (1977)
V.V. Egorov, M.V. Alfimov “Theory of the J-band: from the Frenkel exciton to charge transfer” 50 985–1029 (2007)
A.S. Davydov “The theory of molecular excitons” 7 145–178 (1964)
D.S. Chernavskii “The origin of life and thinking from the viewpoint of modern physics” 43 151–176 (2000)
V.S. Anishchenko, A.B. Neiman et al “Stochastic resonance: noise-enhanced order” 42 7–36 (1999)
V.I. Tatarskii “The Wigner representation of quantum mechanics” 26 311–327 (1983)
M.A. El’yashevich “From the origin of quantum concepts to the establishment of quantum mechanics” 20 656–682 (1977)
A. Loskutov “Fascination of chaos” 53 1257–1280 (2010)

The list is formed automatically.