Dimensional Crossover in Spin Diffusion: A manifestation of the Quantum Zeno Effect

Abstract

The Quantum Zeno Effect (QZE) implies that a too frequent ($\omega_\phi \to \infty)$ observation of a quantum system would trap it in its initial state, even though it would be able to evolve to some other state if not observed. In our scheme, interacting spins in a 3-d cubic lattice, ``observe'' each other with a frequency $\omega_\phi $ $\propto \sqrt{J_x^2+J_y^2+J_z^2}/\hbar $, where $J$'s are the coupling constants. This leads to a ``diffusive'' spread of a local excitation characterized by the constants $D_\mu \propto J_\mu ^2/\omega_\phi .$ Thus, a strongly asymmetric interaction (e.g. $J_y/J_{x(z)}\gg 1$), would hinder diffusion in the perpendicular directions ($D_{x(z)}\to 0$) manifesting the QZE. We show that this effect is present in numerical solutions of simple 2-d systems. This reduction in the diffusion kinetics was experimentally observed in paramagnetic compounds where the asymmetry of the interaction network manifests through an exchange narrowed linewidth$.$ New experimental designs are proposed.