Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 190403 (2008) [4 pages]Foundation of Statistical Mechanics under Experimentally Realistic ConditionsReceived 19 September 2008; published 7 November 2008 We demonstrate the equilibration of isolated macroscopic quantum systems, prepared in nonequilibrium mixed states with a significant population of many energy levels, and observed by instruments with a reasonably bound working range compared to the resolution limit. Both properties are satisfied under many, if not all, experimentally realistic conditions. At equilibrium, the predictions and limitations of statistical mechanics are recovered. © 2008 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.190403
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.190403
PACS:
05.30.−d, 03.65.−w
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