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Environment-Induced Decoherence and the Transition from Quantum to Classical

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Coherent atomic matter waves

Part of the book series: Les Houches - Ecole d’Ete de Physique Theorique ((LHSUMMER,volume 72))

Abstract

We study dynamics of quantum open systems, paying special attention to these aspects of their evolution which are relevant to the transition from quantum to classical. We begin with a discussion of the conditional dynamics of simple systems. The resulting models are straightforward but suffice to illustrate basic physical ideas behind quantum measurements and decoherence. To discuss decoherence and environment-induced supers election (einselection) in a more general setting, we sketch perturbative as well as exact derivations of several master equations valid for various systems. Using these equations we study einselection employing the general strategy of the predictability sieve. Assumptions that are usually made in the discussion of decoherence are critically reexamined along with the “standard lore” to which they lead. Restoration of quantum-classical correspondence in systems that are classically chaotic is discussed. The dynamical second law - it is shown - can be traced to the same phenomena that allow for the restoration of the correspondence principle in decohering chaotic systems (where it is otherwise lost on a very short time-scale). Quantum error correction is discussed as an example of an anti-decoherence strategy. Implications of decoherence and einselection for the interpretation of quantum theory are briefly pointed out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Física J.J. Giambiagi, FCEN, UBA, Pabellón 1, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    J. P. Paz

  2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Astrophysics, MS B288, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    W. H. Zurek

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  1. J. P. Paz
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R. Kaiser C. Westbrook F. David

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Paz, J.P., Zurek, W.H. (2001). Environment-Induced Decoherence and the Transition from Quantum to Classical. In: Kaiser, R., Westbrook, C., David, F. (eds) Coherent atomic matter waves. Les Houches - Ecole d’Ete de Physique Theorique, vol 72. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45338-5_8

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