Published June 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

Comment on ''Effect of entanglement on the decay dynamics of a pair of H(2p) atoms due to spontaneous emission''

  • 1. Centro de Laseres Pulsados, CLPU, E-37008 Salamanca (Spain)
  • 2. Area de Optica, Departamento de Fisica Aplicada, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced s/n, E-37008 Salamanca (Spain)

Description

T. Tanabe et al. [Phys. Rev. A 82, 040101(R) (2010)] have experimentally demonstrated that the emission properties of unstable atoms in entangled and product states are different. The authors define an apparent decay time as a fitting parameter which falls below the lifetime of the single atom for entangled pairs. We argue that their results about coincidence time spectra are correct, but those concerning lifetimes cannot be considered conclusive because they assume the emission of photons by the two atoms to be independent processes, a doubtful hypothesis for entangled states. We suggest an improved evaluation of the lifetimes based on a rigorous approach, which demands some modifications of the experimental procedure.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
83
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 066101-066101.2
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43028346
Subject category
S74: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ATOMS; DECAY; HYDROGEN; HYPOTHESIS; LIFETIME; PAIRING INTERACTIONS; PHOTON EMISSION; PHOTONS; QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT; SPECTRA
Descriptors DEC
BOSONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; ELEMENTS; EMISSION; INTERACTIONS; MASSLESS PARTICLES; NONMETALS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2011 American Institute of Physics