Abstract
The concept of motion in quantum theory is reviewed from a didactical point of view. A unitary evolution according to a Schrödinger equation has very different properties compared to motion in classical physics. If the phase relations defining unitary dynamics are destroyed or unavailable, motion becomes impossible (Zeno effect). The most important mechanism is dislocalization of phase relations (decoherence), arising from coupling of a quantum system to its environment. Macroscopic systems are not frozen, although strong decoherence is important to derive quasi-classical motion within the quantum framework. These two apparently conflicting consequences of strong decoherence are analyzed and compared.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
E. Joos, H.D. Zeh, C. Kiefer, D. Giulini, J. Kupsch, and I.-O. Stamatescu, Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory. 2nd edition (Springer, Berlin 2003).
B. Misra and E.C.G. Sudarshan, Journal of Math. Phys. 18 (1977), 756.
E. Joos, Phys. Rev. D29 (1984), 1626.
W.M. Itano, D.J. Heinzen, J.J. Bollinger, and D.J. Wineland, Phys. Rev. A41 (1990), 2295.
A.C. Elitzur and L. Vaidman, Found. Phys. 23 (1993), 987.
C.H. Bennett, Nature 371 (1994), 479.
P.G. Kwiat, A.G. White, J.R. Mitchell, O. Nairz, G. Weihs, H. Weinfurter, and A. Zeilinger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (1999), 4725.
H.D. Zeh, Found. Phys. 1 (1970), 69.
E. Joos and H.D. Zeh, Z. Phys. B59 (1985), 223.
K. Hornberger and E. Sipe, Phys. Rev. A68 (2003), 012105.
L. Hackermüller, K. Hornberger, B. Brezger, A. Zeilinger and M. Arndt, Nature 427 (2004), 711.
A.O. Caldeira and A.J. Leggett, Physica 121A (1983), 587.
W.H. Zurek in: Frontiers in Nonequilibirum Statistical Physics, ed. by G.T. Moore and M.T. Sculley (Plenum, New York, 1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Joos, E. (2006). Dynamical Consequences of Strong Entanglement. In: Duplantier, B., Raimond, JM., Rivasseau, V. (eds) Quantum Decoherence. Progress in Mathematical Physics, vol 48. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-7808-0_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-7808-0_6
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-7807-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-7643-7808-0
eBook Packages: Mathematics and StatisticsMathematics and Statistics (R0)