QUANTUM ZENO EFFECT, KAPITSA PENDULUM AND WHIRLIGIG PRINCIPLE. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Comparative analysis of three stabilization mechanisms of unstable states of physical systems is presented in this review. These mechanisms are: the quantum Zeno effect, the stabilization of unstable states in an external fast oscillating field (at the example of Kapitza pendulum), and the algorithm called as the principle of whirligig. The common features of these mechanisms, as well as the differences between them, are defined in the paper. In particular, it is shown that the stabilization of quantum systems is possible without involvement of such a notion as the collapse of the wave function. For stabilization there is enough to have such a stabilizing radiation flow when the Rabi frequency of transitions does exceed some frequency. This particular frequency is a magnitude inverse-ly proportional to the lifetime of the state under stabilization. It is shown that stabilization of unstable states by impact of rapidly oscillating forces occurs by non-self-consistent exposure, i.e. the dynamics of stabilizing field is independent of the dynamics of the stabilized state. Stabilization with the principle of whirligig does occur by self-consistent forces, and thus, in many cases stabilization by the use of the principle of whirligig can be more effective.