PBS Space Time

Zeno's Paradox & The Quantum Zeno Effect

A moving arrow is at rest.” Zeno, a Greek philosopher famous for his metaphysical trolling, devised a paradox whose conclusion is just this. If we’re talking about a quantum arrow, there may be a way to freeze its motion simply by looking at it, through the aptly named quantum Zeno effect. The Quantum Zeno effect predicts that certain quantum events can be frozen through this act of observation.

Zeno's Paradox & The Quantum Zeno Effect

12m 48s

A moving arrow is at rest.” Zeno, a Greek philosopher famous for his metaphysical trolling, devised a paradox whose conclusion is just this. If we’re talking about a quantum arrow, there may be a way to freeze its motion simply by looking at it, through the aptly named quantum Zeno effect. The Quantum Zeno effect predicts that certain quantum events can be frozen through this act of observation.

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