dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaSelf-induced decoherence approach: Strong limitations on its validity in a simple spin bath model and on its general physical relevance
| Authors | Maximilian Schlosshauer |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0501138 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0501138 |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevA.72.012109 |
| Journal | Phys. Rev. A 72, 012109 (2005) |
Abstract
The "self-induced decoherence" (SID) approach suggests that (1) the expectation value of any observable becomes diagonal in the eigenstates of the total Hamiltonian for systems endowed with a continuous energy spectrum, and (2), that this process can be interpreted as decoherence. We evaluate the first claim in the context of a simple spin bath model. We find that even for large environments, corresponding to an approximately continuous energy spectrum, diagonalization of the expectation value of random observables does in general not occur. We explain this result and conjecture that SID is likely to fail also in other systems composed of discrete subsystems. Regarding the second claim, we emphasize that SID does not describe a physically meaningful decoherence process for individual measurements, but only involves destructive interference that occurs collectively within an ensemble of presupposed "values" of measurements. This leads us to question the relevance of SID for treating observed decoherence effects.
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"abstract": "The \"self-induced decoherence\" (SID) approach suggests that (1) the\nexpectation value of any observable becomes diagonal in the eigenstates of the\ntotal Hamiltonian for systems endowed with a continuous energy spectrum, and\n(2), that this process can be interpreted as decoherence. We evaluate the first\nclaim in the context of a simple spin bath model. We find that even for large\nenvironments, corresponding to an approximately continuous energy spectrum,\ndiagonalization of the expectation value of random observables does in general\nnot occur. We explain this result and conjecture that SID is likely to fail\nalso in other systems composed of discrete subsystems. Regarding the second\nclaim, we emphasize that SID does not describe a physically meaningful\ndecoherence process for individual measurements, but only involves destructive\ninterference that occurs collectively within an ensemble of presupposed\n\"values\" of measurements. This leads us to question the relevance of SID for\ntreating observed decoherence effects.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0501138",
"authors": [
"Maximilian Schlosshauer"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1103/PhysRevA.72.012109",
"journal_ref": "Phys. Rev. A 72, 012109 (2005)",
"title": "Self-induced decoherence approach: Strong limitations on its validity in a simple spin bath model and on its general physical relevance",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0501138"
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