00:00Ultra-cold cesium atoms held in a NIST laser trap transition between quantum states.
00:06Rather than using cameras, physicists apply frequent quantum measurements,
00:11probing the system to continuously reset its evolution.
00:15Common sense says staring at a fragile atom destroys it faster,
00:19but continuous observation actually halts all decay completely.
00:24Frequent laser pulses force the particle to reset its quantum wave function,
00:29trapping it forever in the same state.
00:32This continuous measurement trick can inhibit the evolution of physical systems,
00:37demonstrating how frequent observations of unstable atoms prevent their decay.
