Loss of quantum coherence in a system coupled to a zero-temperature environment
Quantum Physics
2009-11-10 v2 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Abstract
We discuss the influence of a zero-temperature environment on a coherent quantum system. First, we calculate the reduced density operator of the system in the framework of the well-known, exactly solvable model of an oscillator coupled to a bath of harmonic oscillators. Then, we propose the sketch of an Aharonov--Bohm-like interferometer showing, through interference measurements, the decrease of the coherence length of the system due to the interaction with the environment, even in the zero temperature limit.
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0402176,
title = {Loss of quantum coherence in a system coupled to a zero-temperature environment},
author = {A. Ratchov and F. Faure and F. W. J. Hekking},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0402176},
year = {2009}
}