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Decoherence and Einselection

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Decoherence: Theoretical, Experimental, and Conceptual Problems

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 538))

Abstract

The roles of decoherence and environment-induced superselection in the emergence of the classical from the quantum substrate are described. The stability of correlations between the einselected quantum pointer states and the environment allows them to exist almost as objectively as if they were classical: There are ways of finding out what is the pointer state of the system which utilize redundancy of their correlations with the environment, and which leave einselected states essentially unperturbed. This relatively objective existence of certain quantum states facilitates operational definition of probabilities in the quantum setting. Moreover, once the states that ‘exist’ and can be ‘found out’ are in place, a ‘collapse’ in the traditional sense is no longer necessary — in effect, it has already happened. The records of the observer will contain evidence of an effective collapse. The role of the preferred states in the processing and storage of information is emphasized. The existential interpretation based on the relatively objective existence of stable correlations between the einselected states of observers memory and in the outside Universe is formulated and discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Theoretical Astrophysics, T-6, MS B288, LANL, Los Alamos, 87545, New Mexico, USA

    Wojciech H. Zurek

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  1. Wojciech H. Zurek
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fakultät für Physik, Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany

    Philippe Blanchard

  2. Rosenweg 2, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany

    Erich Joos

  3. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Zürich, Winterthurer Strasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Domenico Giulini

  4. Fakultät für Physik, Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 3, 79104, Freiburg, Germany

    Clau Kiefer

  5. FESt, Schmeilweg 5, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany

    Ion-Olimpiu Stamatescu

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Zurek, W.H. (2000). Decoherence and Einselection. In: Blanchard, P., Joos, E., Giulini, D., Kiefer, C., Stamatescu, IO. (eds) Decoherence: Theoretical, Experimental, and Conceptual Problems. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 538. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46657-6_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-46657-6_26

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