Quantum nondemolition measurements in a Paul trap

Abstract

In this work a family of quantum nondemolition variables for the case of a particle caught in a Paul trap is obtained. Afterwards, in the context of the so called restricted path integral formalism, a continuous measuring process for this family of parameters is considered, and then the corresponding propagators are calculated. In other words, the time evolution of a particle in a Paul trap, when the corresponding quantum nondemolition parameter is being continuously monitored, is deduced. The probabilities associated with the possible measurement outputs are also obtained, and in this way new theoretical results emerge, which could allow us to confront the predictions of this restricted path integral formalism with the readouts of some future experiments.