Weak measurements and quantum-to-classical transitions in free electron-photon interactions.

ABSTRACT: How does the quantum-to-classical transition of measurement occur? This question is vital for both foundations and applications of quantum mechanics. Here, we develop a new measurement-based framework for characterizing the classical and quantum free electron-photon interactions and then experimentally test it. We first analyze the transition from projective to weak measurement in generic light-matter interactions and show that any classical electron-laser-beam interaction can be represented as an outcome of weak measurement. In particular, the appearance of classical point-particle acceleration is an example of an amplified weak value resulting from weak measurement. A universal factor, [Formula: see text], quantifies the measurement regimes and their transition from quantum to classical,

SUBMITTER: Pan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10632359 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature