Further results on the observability of quantum systems under general measurement

Abstract

In this paper, we present a collection of results on the observability of quantum mechanical systems, in the case the output is the result of a discrete nonselective measurement. By defining an effective observable we extend previous results, on the Lie algebraic characterization of observable systems, to general measurements. Further results include the characterization of a `best probe' (i.e. a minimally disturbing probe) in indirect measurement and a study of the relation between disturbance and observability in this case. We also discuss how the observability properties of a quantum system relate to the problem of state reconstruction. Extensions of the formalism to the case of selective measurements are also given.