nLab quantum decoherence

Idea

In quantum physics decoherence refers to the disappearance of quantum entanglement and superposition in the limit where small quantum mechanical systems are coupled to large thermal baths?.

This has been argued to resolve (and has been argued not to resolve) the problem with the interpretation of quantum measurement.

Related concepts

• quantum entanglement

• classical limit

• density matrix

• quantum measurement, interpretation of quantum mechanics

• measurement, experiment

• observable universe

• consistent histories

• einselection

References

Original discusssion identifying quantum decoherence as interaction with an averaged environment (“bath”):

• Erich Joos, H. Dieter Zeh The emergence of classical properties through interaction with the environment, Z. Physik B – Condensed Matter 59(1985) 223–243 [doi:10.1007/BF01725541]

• Erich Joos, www.decoherence.de

• Roland Omnès, §7 of: The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, Princeton University Press (1994) [ISBN:9780691036694]

• Wojciech Zurek, Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical, Rev. Mod. Phys. 75 (2003) 715-775 [quant-ph/0105127, doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.75.715]

See also:

• Chris Nagele, Oliver Janssen, Matthew Kleban, Decoherence: A Numerical Study [arXiv:2010.04803]

• Wikipedia, Quantum decoherence

A proposal for mathematical quantification of coherence:

• Fedor Herbut, A quantum measure of coherence and incompatibility, Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General 38, 2959 (2005) (arXiv:quant-ph/0503077, arXiv:10.1088/0305-4470/38/13/010)

which was rediscovered and then became famous with:

• T. Baumgratz, M. Cramer, M. B. Plenio, Quantifying Coherence, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 140401 (2014) (arXiv:1311.0275, doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.140401)