Two Applications of Quantum Memory
by
Wafik A. Wassef
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Moose Jaw, Canada

In this article we consider two cases by which we can verify whether a quantum system (a particle or a photon) possesses a memory, that is to say, its present state contains explicit information about its past states that span an interval of time called its memory range. Consequently the dynamical processes of such quantum system cannot be described as Markov processes. The concept of quantum memory was introduced by the author (W. A. Wassef, Can. J. Phys., 67, 493, 1989). It was applied to explain several experimental results as well as to interpret the collapse of the wave function during a measurement process. The problem of scattering is applied in the present paper for two different cases: 1. The collision between two particles, from which one recovers the law of thermal equilibrium, 2. the creation of a pair of particle-antiparticle by two interacting photons. Some of the results of quantum mechanics and the special theory of relativity are recovered from this single concept of quantum memory.

Date received: November 29, 2002