Let’s allow Schrödinger, in fiery opposition to Bohr and Heisenberg, to premise this abstract: “If all this damned quantum jumping were really here to stay, I should be sorry I ever got involved with quantum theory!”
Consider that Schrödinger’s equation is deterministic and nothing within its jurisdiction jumps. Yet, a milestone of experimental quantum physics is the very observation of jumps in a quantum atom. In this introductory presentation, we will explore the debate surrounding quantum jumps. This discussion will serve as a window into a modern theoretical vantage point on measurements in open quantum systems: quantum trajectories. Some of our insights from this modern theory serve as the basis of an ongoing experiment—which aims to add an experimental degree of objectivity to the long-standing debate. The experimental platform is based on superconducting artificial atoms and circuit quantum electrodynamics.