Longer Wait Keeps Fewer Shots - Quantum Measurement and Coherence Windows Step by Step

A longer wait can be compared by declaring two retained-shot budgets without fitting a full exponential lifetime model. The row comparison is exact only for the stated waits, prepared counts, retained counts, and identical acceptance rule; real measurements add drift between runs, changing backgrounds, dead time, and finite-count uncertainty.

A contrast budget can compare two finite waits without fitting an exponential. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

The first finite wait retains three fourths

With the first declared wait, 60 of 80 shots remain, so the retained fraction is 3/4.

f_{\text{first}}=\frac{3}{4}

The longer declared wait retains one half

The contrast budget keeps 40 of 80 shots, so the fraction is 1/2.

f_{\text{contrast}}=\frac{1}{2}