English

Joint momenta-coordinates states as pointer states in quantum decoherence

Quantum Physics 2025-10-23 v2

Abstract

Quantum decoherence provides a framework to study the emergence of classicality from quantum systems by showing how interactions with the environment suppress interferences and select robust states known as pointer states. Earlier studies have linked Gaussian coherent states to pointer states. More recently, it was conjectured that more general quantum states called joint momenta-coordinates states may serve as more suitable candidates to be pointer states. These states are associated to the concept of quantum phase space and saturate, by definition, generalized uncertainty relations. In this work, we rigorously prove this conjecture. Building on the Lindblad framework for the damped harmonic oscillator, and applying Zurek's predictability-sieve criterion, we analyze both underdamped and overdamped regimes. We show that only in the underdamped case do joint momenta-coordinates states remain pure and robust for all times, establishing them as the true pointer states. This extends Isar's earlier underdamped treatment, generalizes the concept beyond Gaussian approximations, and embeds classical robustness in the quantum phase space formalism, with potential applications in error-resistant quantum information.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2509.18206,
  title  = {Joint momenta-coordinates states as pointer states in quantum decoherence},
  author = {Nomenjanahary Tanjonirina Manampisoa and Ravo Tokiniaina Ranaivoson and Roland Raboanary and Raoelina Andriambololona and Rivo Herivola Manjakamanana Ravelonjato and Naivo Rabesiranana},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.18206},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

17 pages

R2 v1 2026-07-01T05:50:33.576Z