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'Zeno effect' verified—atoms won't move while you watch

Anomalism

Anomalism

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'Zeno effect' verified?atoms won't move while you watch

One of the oddest predictions of quantum theory – that a system can't change while you're watching it – has been confirmed in an experiment by Cornell physicists. Their work opens the door to a fundamentally new method to control and manipulate the quantum states of atoms and could lead to new kinds of sensors.
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DaveFagan said:
Sounds like they will be able to control a flow by turning a laser on and off, or use an oscillation triggering technique.
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It would seem to require a more in depth explanation than the article supplies. Or maybe it only needs me to know more physics.
 
joG said:
It seems odd to say that the control was by observation, when they were not only watching, but shooting a beam of light at them. After all, the atoms began there tunneling again, when the light was dimmed although the watching went on.
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It all depends on the type of observation. If it is purely passive then there should be no effect. If it is an active technique then I expect the technique is causing interference.
 
PirateMk1 said:
It all depends on the type of observation. If it is purely passive then there should be no effect. If it is an active technique then I expect the technique is causing interference.
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That is where I stumbled with the statement that merely watching prevented movement.
 
joG said:
That is where I stumbled with the statement that merely watching prevented movement.
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You can't really "watch" anything on the subatomic level. You have to bombard the particles with another particle, and record the interactions.

In this case, they are bombarding atoms with photons. This prevents the atoms from quantum tunneling, and their actions conform more to classical mechanics. When the atoms are not hit with a stream of photons, they tunnel, and act in a way better described by quantum mechanics.
 
Visbek said:
You can't really "watch" anything on the subatomic level. You have to bombard the particles with another particle, and record the interactions.

In this case, they are bombarding atoms with photons. This prevents the atoms from quantum tunneling, and their actions conform more to classical mechanics. When the atoms are not hit with a stream of photons, they tunnel, and act in a way better described by quantum mechanics.
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Sort of like shooting someone stops his running away?

That would make physics easier to understand. ;)

Less mystery.
 
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