Conditions for implementing projective measurements through continuous monitoring

Projective measurements are foundational for quantum physics in general and quantum information tasks in particular. However, their direct implementation is often not warranted. Here, we investigate under what conditions continuous monitoring that manifests in quantum jump trajectories realises projective measurements over time. Considering finite-dimensional quantum systems and single, diagonalisable jump operators, we show if and how the detected quantum jump statistics force, and allow inferring, the convergence of individual quantum trajectories towards eigenstates of an observable in the long-time limit. We identify a necessary non-degeneracy condition that is related to the presence of a strong symmetry with non-degenerate symmetry sectors. We derive analytical expressions for the rate of convergence and the time-error relationship in finite-time measurements. Our results provide a transparent framework for understanding the emergence of projective measurements from continuous monitoring, with direct implications for the optimisation of quantum measurement protocols in experiments.