Quantum nondemolition measurements of a particle in electric and gravitational fields

Abstract

In this work we obtain a nondemolition variable for the case in which a charged particle moves in the electric and gravitational fields of a spherical body. Afterwards we consider the continuous monitoring of this nondemolition parameter, and calculate along the ideas of the so called restricted path integral formalism, the corresponding propagator. Using these results the probabilities associated with the possible measurement outputs are evaluated. The limit of our results, as the resolution of the measuring device goes to zero, is analyzed, and the dependence of the corresponding propagator upon the strength of the electric and gravitational fields are commented. The role that mass plays in the corresponding results, and its possible connection with the equivalence principle at quantum level, are studied.