Quantum Zeno effect in a classical viscous medium

Abstract

Abstract Based on the formalism of quasi-classical canonical quantization, the translational motion of a particle in a viscous medium is studied. The case is considered when, in addition to the resistance forces, an external conservative force acts on the particle. It is shown that due to the forces of viscous resistance of the medium, the initial coherent state of the particle does not decay. This behavior of the wave function is accompanied by a partial suppression of the quantum properties of the particle. In this case, a viscous medium should be considered as a classical device that continuously measures the state of a particle. Therefore, the stability of the coherent state of a particle can be interpreted as a manifestation of the quantum Zeno effect.