Decoherence in the Quantum Dynamics of a "Central Spin" Coupled to a Spin Environment

We consider here the problem of a "central spin", with spin quantum number $S \gg 1$, interacting with a set of microscopic spins. Interactions between the microscopic spins are ignored. This model describes magnetic grains or magnetic macromolecules (ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically ordered) interacting with nuclear spins and with any surrounding paramagnetic electronic spins. It has also been used to describe $Si:P$ near the metal-insulator transition, and quantum spin glasses. In this paper we consider the possible coherent motion of the central spin. We reduce the model to an effective low-energy Hamiltonian, and then calculate the correlation function <S(t)S(0)> using instanton methods. The general solution is given for the unbiased case, for all relevant values of the couplings. Under certain conditions, nuclear spin diffusion also plays a role. The results are then used to calculate the spectral absorption for 2 experimental systems, viz., $TbFe_3$ grains, and ferritin molecules. Our results have general implications for the observation of mesoscopic and macroscopic quantum coherence, and for the foundations of quantum mechanics. They show that a spin environment usually has a very destructive effect on coherence, which cannot be understood using the conventional "oscillator bath" models of quantum environments.