Abstract We compute the entropy per particle, S / N , produced by the decoherence of a coherent state interacting with an environment, using an analytical open quantum system approach. The coherent state considered is characterized by occupation numbers borrowed from the Glasma fields produced in the early stages of high-energy nuclear collisions. The environment is modeled as the vacuum, and decoherence arises from the interaction of the state with vacuum fluctuations. We describe the system–environment interaction via a phase-damping model, which represents continuous measurements on the system without altering its energy or particle number. Starting from the occupation numbers typical of the Glasma in high-energy proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions, we find that the final S / N after decoherence is lower than that of a two-dimensional thermal bath of ultra-relativistic gluons, except for proton–nucleus collisions at small values of $g\mu$ g μ . Our results indicate that quantum decoherence alone does not generate sufficient entropy to transform the initial coherent state into a thermalized gluon bath.Abstract We compute the entropy per particle, S / N , produced by the decoherence of a coherent state interacting with an environment, using an analytical open quantum system approach. The coherent state considered is characterized by occupation numbers borrowed from the Glasma fields produced in the early stages of high-energy nuclear collisions. The environment is modeled as the vacuum, and decoherence arises from the interaction of the state with vacuum fluctuations. We describe the system–environment interaction via a phase-damping model, which represents continuous measurements on the system without altering its energy or particle number. Starting from the occupation numbers typical of the Glasma in high-energy proton–nucleus and nucleus–nucleus collisions, we find that the final S / N after decoherence is lower than that of a two-dimensional thermal bath of ultra-relativistic gluons, except for proton–nucleus collisions at small values of $$g\mu$$ g μ . Our results indicate that quantum decoherence alone does not generate sufficient entropy to transform the initial coherent state into a thermalized gluon bath.

arXiv:2507.04809The European Physical Journal PlusMar 17, 20260 citations

Decoherence and dynamical entropy generation in quantum field theory

Jurjen F. Koksma, Tomislav Prokopec, Michael G. Schmidt

arXiv:1101.5323Physics Letters BDec 23, 201112 citations

Quantum decoherence, entropy and thermalization in strong interactions at high energy. (I). Noisy and dissipative vacuum effects in toy models

Hans-Thomas Elze

arXiv:hep-ph/9404215Nuclear Physics BFeb 1, 199540 citations

Interaction and quantum decoherence

D.S. Golubev, Andrei D. Zaikin

arXiv:cond-mat/9804156Physica B Condensed MatterDec 1, 199844 citations

Decoherence and Landauer’s principle in qubit-cavity quantum-field-theory interaction

Hao Xu, Si Yu Chen, Yen Chin Ong

Abstract We consider quantum decoherence and Landauer’s principle in qubit-cavity quantum field theory (QFT) interaction, treating the qubit as the system and cavity QFT as the environment. In particular, we investigate the changes that occur in the system with a pure initial state and environment during the decoherence process, with or without energy dissipation, and compare the results with the case in which the initial state of the system is a mixed state and thus decoherence is absent. When we choose an interaction Hamiltonian such that the energy and coherence of the system change simultaneously, the population change of the system and the energy change are the same when the initial state is mixed. However, the decoherence terms increase the von Neumann entropy of the system. In this case the energy change and decoherence of the system are not independent physical processes. The decoherence process maintains unitarity. On the other hand, if the interaction Hamiltonian does not change the energy of the system, there is only the decoherence effect. The environment will be a distribution in the basis of the displaced number state and always increases the energy. Landauer’s principle is satisfied in both cases.Abstract We consider quantum decoherence and Landauer’s principle in qubit-cavity quantum field theory (QFT) interaction, treating the qubit as the system and cavity QFT as the environment. In particular, we investigate the changes that occur in the system with a pure initial state and environment during the decoherence process, with or without energy dissipation, and compare the results with the case in which the initial state of the system is a mixed state and thus decoherence is absent. When we choose an interaction Hamiltonian such that the energy and coherence of the system change simultaneously, the population change of the system and the energy change are the same when the initial state is mixed. However, the decoherence terms increase the von Neumann entropy of the system. In this case the energy change and decoherence of the system are not independent physical processes. The decoherence process maintains unitarity. On the other hand, if the interaction Hamiltonian does not change the energy of the system, there is only the decoherence effect. The environment will be a distribution in the basis of the displaced number state and always increases the energy. Landauer’s principle is satisfied in both cases.

arXiv:2207.06702The European Physical Journal CJan 10, 20234 citations

g\mu

g μ . Our results indicate that quantum decoherence alone does not generate sufficient entropy to transform the initial coherent state into a thermalized gluon bath.