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Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics

Superposition principle, spontaneous decoherence and C60molecule interference

Stefano Olivares

Published Nov 7, 2002• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A coherent superposition of two Gaussian wavepackets, which freely evolves in time, gives rise to an interference pattern similar to that of the single-particle double-slit Young's experiment. In this paper we show that fringe visibility can be reduced by spontaneous decoherence, which can also destroy quantum coherence when interaction between a system and its surroundings can be neglected. This decoherence is due to fluctuations in the evolution time and, in general, cannot be achieved when simple classical averages are considered. We compare our theoretical results with a C 60 fullerenes interference experiment, where thermal decoherence is not relevant, but the fringe visibility is actually reduced.

DOI
10.1088/1464-4266/4/6/312

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A coherent superposition of two Gaussian wavepackets, which freely evolves in time, gives rise to an interference pattern similar to that of the single-particle double-slit Young's experiment. In this paper we show that fringe visibility can be reduced by spontaneous decoherence, which can also destroy quantum coherence when interaction between a system and its surroundings can be neglected. This decoherence is due to fluctuations in the evolution time and, in general, cannot be achieved when simple classical averages are considered. We compare our theoretical results with a C 60 fullerenes interference experiment, where thermal decoherence is not relevant, but the fringe visibility is actually reduced.
Decoherence is the main process behind the quantum to classical transition. It is a purely quantum mechanical effect by which the system loses its ability to exhibit coherent behavior. The recent experimental observation of diffraction and interference patterns for large molecules raises some interesting questions. In this context, we identify possible agents of decoherence to take into account when modeling these experiments, and study their visible (or not) effects on the interference pattern. We thereby present an analysis of matter wave interferometry in the presence of a dynamic quantum environment, and study how much the visibility fringe is reduced and in which timescale the decoherence effects destroy the interference of massive objects. Finally, we apply our results to the experimental data reported on fullerenes and cold neutrons. © World Scientific Publishing Company.
A double-slit experiment is analysed when the interfering particle has an internal structure and one endeavours to obtain ‘which path’ information by detecting the light that is spontaneously emitted. A compact expression is derived for the visibility of the interference pattern: coherence depends on both the spatial and temporal features of the emission process during the travel of the particle to the screen. A bound is set on the temperature of a fullerene molecule in a double-slit experiment in order that its quantum mechanical coherence be maintained.
Decoherence is the main process behind the quantum to classical transition. It is a purely quantum mechanical effect by which the system loses its ability to exhibit coherent behavior. The recent experimental observation of diffraction and interference patterns for large molecules raises some interesting questions. In this context, we identify possible agents of decoherence to take into account when modeling these experiments, and study their visible (or not) effects on the interference pattern. We thereby present an analysis of matter wave interferometry in the presence of a dynamic quantum environment, and study how much the visibility fringe is reduced and in which timescale the decoherence effects destroy the interference of massive objects. Finally, we apply our results to the experimental data reported on fullerenes and cold neutrons.
We discuss the single-particle Young interference experiment in position space, showing its close relation with the time-dependent Schrodinger spread. In the two-slit case there is always a maximum at the centre of the screen. Here we demonstrate that, with three slits, one can have zero intensity (at the centre) for discrete values of the spacing between the slits and of the distance of the screen. Finally, we show the possibility that spontaneous intrinsic decoherence destroys the interference pattern and that decoherence becomes stronger at the macroscopic limit.