Fundamental decoherence from quantum gravity: a pedagogical review
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
2008-11-26 v1 High Energy Physics - Theory
Quantum Physics
Abstract
We present a discussion of the fundamental loss of unitarity that appears in quantum mechanics due to the use of a physical apparatus to measure time. This induces a decoherence effect that is independent of any interaction with the environment and appears in addition to any usual environmental decoherence. The discussion is framed self consistently and aimed to general physicists. We derive the modified Schroedinger equation that arises in quantum mechanics with real clocks and discuss the theoretical and potential experimental implications of this process of decoherence.
Cite
@article{arxiv.gr-qc/0603090,
title = {Fundamental decoherence from quantum gravity: a pedagogical review},
author = {Rodolfo Gambini and Rafael Porto and Jorge Pullin},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/0603090},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
9 pages, dedicated to Octavio Obregon on his 60th birthday