{
  "id": "1012.3701",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2010-12-16T17:57:10.000Z",
  "updated": "2010-12-16T17:57:10.000Z",
  "title": "Decoherence in Quantum Mechanics",
  "authors": [
    "Jurjen F. Koksma",
    "Tomislav Prokopec",
    "Michael G. Schmidt"
  ],
  "comment": "25 pages, 13 figures",
  "categories": [
    "quant-ph",
    "gr-qc",
    "hep-th"
  ],
  "abstract": "We study decoherence in a simple quantum mechanical model using two approaches. Firstly, we follow the conventional approach to decoherence where one is interested in solving the reduced density matrix from the perturbative master equation. Secondly, we consider our novel correlator approach to decoherence where entropy is generated by neglecting observationally inaccessible correlators. We show that both methods can accurately predict decoherence time scales. However, the perturbative master equation generically suffers from instabilities which prevents us to reliably calculate the system's total entropy increase. We also discuss the relevance of the results in our quantum mechanical model for interacting field theories.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2010-12-16T17:57:10.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "subjects": [
      "03.67.-a",
      "03.67.Mn",
      "03.65.Yz",
      "03.65.-w",
      "98.80.-k"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "quantum mechanics",
      "systems total entropy increase",
      "accurately predict decoherence time scales",
      "novel correlator approach",
      "simple quantum mechanical model"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "publication": {
      "doi": "10.1016/j.aop.2010.12.014",
      "journal": "Annals of Physics",
      "year": 2011,
      "month": "Jun",
      "volume": 326,
      "number": 6,
      "pages": 1548
    },
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 25,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "inspire": 881626,
      "adsabs": "2011AnPhy.326.1548K"
    }
  }
}