Nonextensive approach to decoherence in quantum mechanics

A. Vidiella-Barranco, H. Moya-Cessa

Published 2000-02-24, updated 2000-03-13Version 2

We propose a nonextensive generalization (q parametrized) of the von Neumann equation for the density operator. Our model naturally leads to the phenomenon of decoherence, and unitary evolution is recovered in the limit of q -> 1. The resulting evolution yields a nonexponential decay for quantum coherences, fact that might be attributed to nonextensivity. We discuss, as an example, the loss of coherence observed in trapped ions.