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Time-dependent pointer states, determination of the preferred basis of measurement, and decoherence of quantum systems

Hoofar Daneshvar

Published Jan 1, 2011• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We present a general analytic method for evaluating the generally time-dependent pointer states of a subsystem, which are defined by their capability not to entangle with the states of another subsystem. We explore the conditions under which the pointer states of the system become independent of time; so that a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. We relate the mathematical conditions for having time-independent pointer states to some classes of possible symmetries in the Hamiltonian of the total composite system. Indeed, our theory would serve as a generalization of the existing theory for determination of the preferred basis of measurement. By exploiting this new theory we can obtain those regimes of the parameter space for a given total Hamiltonian defining our system-environment model for which a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. Moreover, we can predict the corresponding preferred basis of measurement for each regime. We can also obtain the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment in most of the other regimes where the pointer states of the system are time-dependent and a preferred basis of measurement cannot be realized at all. This ability to obtain time-dependent pointer states is specifically important in decoherence studies; as these pointer states, although they evolve with time and cannot represent the preferred basis of measurement, they correspond to those initial conditions for the state of the system and the environment for which we can have longer decoherence times. In the next step, we consider a spin-boson Hamiltonian which is generalized such that the Hamiltonians for the system and the interaction with the environment do not commute with each other. Considering a single-mode quantized field in exact resonance with the tunneling matrix element of the system, we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment for the case that the environment initially is prepared in the coherent state. We also obtain a closed form for the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We will show that for the case that the system initially is prepared in one of its pointer states, the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system will be a sinusoidal function with a slow decaying envelop which is characterized by a decay time proportional to n-bar.

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Time-dependent pointer states and determination of the preferred basis of measurement

Hoofar Daneshvar, G. W. F. Drake

We present a general analytic method for evaluating the generally time-dependent pointer states of a subsystem, which are defined by their capability not to entangle with the states of another subsystem. In this way, we show how in practice the global state of the system and the environment may evolve into a diagonal state as a result of the natural evolution of the total composite system. We explore the conditions under which the pointer states of the system become independent of time; so that a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. As we show, these conditions include the so-called quantum limit of decoherence and the so-called quantum measurement limit; as well as some other specific conditions which are discussed in the paper. We relate the mathematical conditions for having time-independent pointer states to some classes of possible symmetries in the Hamiltonian of the total composite system. Indeed, our theory would serve as a generalization of the existing theory for determination of the preferred basis of measurement. By exploiting this new theory we can obtain those regimes of the parameter space for a given total Hamiltonian defining our system-environment model for which a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. Moreover, we can predict the corresponding preferred basis of measurement for each regime. We can also obtain the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment in most of the other regimes where the pointer states of the system are time-dependent and a preferred basis of measurement cannot be realized at all. This ability to obtain time-dependent pointer states is specifically important in decoherence studies; as pointer states correspond to those initial conditions for the state of the system and the environment for which we can have longer decoherence times.

arXiv:1104.4405•Apr 22, 2011•2 citations

Time-dependent pointer states of the generalized spin-boson model and consequences regarding the decoherence of the central system

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We consider a spin-boson Hamiltonian which is generalized such that the Hamiltonians for the system ($\hat{H}_{\cal S}$) and the interaction with the environment ($\hat{H}_{\rm int}$) do not commute with each other. Considering a single-mode quantized field in exact resonance with the tunneling matrix element of the system, we obtain the time-evolution operator for our model. Using our time-evolution operator we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment (which are characterized by their ability not to entangle with each other) for the case that the environment initially is prepared in the coherent state. We show that our solution for the pointer states of the system and the environment is valid over a length of time which is proportional to $\bar{n}$, the average number of bosons in the environment. We also obtain a closed form for the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We show that for the case that the system initially is prepared in one of its pointer states, the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system will be a \emph{sinusoidal function} with a slow decaying envelope which is characterized by a decay time proportional to $\bar{n}$; while it will experience a much faster decoherence, when the system initially is \emph{not} prepared in one of its initial pointer states.

arXiv:1110.0072•Oct 1, 2011•1 citation

Time-dependent pointer states and decoherence of the quantized atom-field model in a nonresonant regime

Hoofar Daneshvar, G. W. F. Drake

We consider the quantized atom-field model and for the regime ; where , and respectively represent the self-Hamiltonians of the environment, the system, and the interaction between the system and the environment. Considering a single-mode quantized field we obtain the time evolution operator for the model. Using our time evolution operator we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment, which are characterized by their property of not entangling with states of another subsystem. We obtain a closed form expression for the off-diagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We show that for the case where the system initially is not prepared in one of its pointer states, the off-diagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system decays with a decoherence time that is inversely proportional to the square root of the mass of the bosonic field particles.

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Time-dependent pointer states of the quantized atom-field model in a nonresonance regime and consequences regarding the decoherence of the central system

Hoofar Daneshvar, G. W. F. Drake

We consider the quantized atom-field model and for the regime that $\hat{H}_{\cal E}\ll\hat{H}_{\cal S}\ll\hat{H'}$ (but $\hat{H}_{\cal E}\neq0$ and $\hat{H}_{\cal S}\neq0$); where $\hat{H}_{\cal E}$, $\hat{H}_{\cal S}$ and $\hat{H'}$ respectively represent the self Hamiltonians of the environment and the system, and the interaction between the system and the environment. Considering a single-mode quantized field we obtain the time-evolution operator for the model. Using our time-evolution operator we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment (which are characterized by their ability not to entangle with states of another subsystem) by assuming an initial state of the environment in the form of a Gaussian package in position space. We obtain a closed form for the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We will show that for the case that the system initially is not prepared in one of its pointer states, the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system will decay with a decoherence time which is inversely proportional to the square root of the mass of the bosonic field particles.

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Quantum measurements without Schrödinger cat states

Dominique Spehner, Fritz Haake

We report and give an alternative derivation of some results on a model for a quantum measurement studied in [1]. The measured microscopic system is coupled to the position of a macroscopic pointer, which itself interacts with its environment via its momentum. The entanglement between the system and the pointer produced by their mutual interaction is simultaneous with the decoherence of distinct pointer readings resulting from leakage of information to the environment. After a discussion on the various time scales in the model we calculate the matrix elements of the system-pointer density operator between eigenstates of the measured observable with distinct eigenvalues. In general, the decay with time of these coherences is neither exponential nor gaussian. We determine the decoherence (decay) time in terms of the strength of the system-pointer and pointer-environment couplings. This decoherence time does not depend upon the details of the pointer-bath coupling as soon as it is smaller than the bath correlation time (non-Markov regime). In contrast, in the Markov regime it depends strongly on whether this coupling is Ohmic or super-Ohmic.

Journal of Physics Conference Series•Oct 1, 2007•1 citation

Pointer states via decoherence in a quantum measurement

Anu Venugopalan

We consider the interaction of a quantum system (spin-$\frac{1}{2})$ with a macroscopic quantum apparatus (harmonic oscillator) which in turn is coupled to a bath of harmonic oscillators. Exact solutions of the Markovian master equation show that the reduced density matrix of the system-apparatus combination decoheres to a statistical mixture where up and down spins eventually correlate with pointer states of the apparatus (harmonic oscillator), with associated probabilities in accordance with quantum principles. For the zero-temperature bath these pointer states turn out to be coherent states of the harmonic oscillator (apparatus) for arbitrary initial states of the apparatus. Further, we see that the decoherence time is inversely proportional to the square of the separation between the two coherent states with which the spins correlate. For a high-temperature bath, pointer states no longer remain coherent states but are Gaussian distributions (generalized coherent states). Spin up and down states of the system now correlate with nearly diagonal distributions in position of these generalized coherent states. The diagonalization in position increases with the temperature of the bath. The off-diagonal elements in spin space decohere over a time scale which goes inversely as the square of the separation between the peaks of the two position distributions that correlate with the spin states. Zurek's earlier approximate result for the decoherence time is consistent with our exact results. Our analysis brings out the importance of looking at a measurementlike scenario where definite correlations are established between the system and apparatus to determine the nature of the pointer basis of the apparatus. Further, our exact results demonstrate in an unambiguous way that the pointer states in this measurement model emerge independent of the initial state of the apparatus.

arXiv:quant-ph/9909005•Physical Review A•Dec 8, 1999•34 citations
We present a general analytic method for evaluating the generally time-dependent pointer states of a subsystem, which are defined by their capability not to entangle with the states of another subsystem. We explore the conditions under which the pointer states of the system become independent of time; so that a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. We relate the mathematical conditions for having time-independent pointer states to some classes of possible symmetries in the Hamiltonian of the total composite system. Indeed, our theory would serve as a generalization of the existing theory for determination of the preferred basis of measurement. By exploiting this new theory we can obtain those regimes of the parameter space for a given total Hamiltonian defining our system-environment model for which a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. Moreover, we can predict the corresponding preferred basis of measurement for each regime. We can also obtain the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment in most of the other regimes where the pointer states of the system are time-dependent and a preferred basis of measurement cannot be realized at all. This ability to obtain time-dependent pointer states is specifically important in decoherence studies; as these pointer states, although they evolve with time and cannot represent the preferred basis of measurement, they correspond to those initial conditions for the state of the system and the environment for which we can have longer decoherence times. In the next step, we consider a spin-boson Hamiltonian which is generalized such that the Hamiltonians for the system and the interaction with the environment do not commute with each other. Considering a single-mode quantized field in exact resonance with the tunneling matrix element of the system, we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment for the case that the environment initially is prepared in the coherent state. We also obtain a closed form for the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We will show that for the case that the system initially is prepared in one of its pointer states, the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system will be a sinusoidal function with a slow decaying envelop which is characterized by a decay time proportional to n-bar.
We present a general analytic method for evaluating the generally time-dependent pointer states of a subsystem, which are defined by their capability not to entangle with the states of another subsystem. In this way, we show how in practice the global state of the system and the environment may evolve into a diagonal state as a result of the natural evolution of the total composite system. We explore the conditions under which the pointer states of the system become independent of time; so that a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. As we show, these conditions include the so-called quantum limit of decoherence and the so-called quantum measurement limit; as well as some other specific conditions which are discussed in the paper. We relate the mathematical conditions for having time-independent pointer states to some classes of possible symmetries in the Hamiltonian of the total composite system. Indeed, our theory would serve as a generalization of the existing theory for determination of the preferred basis of measurement. By exploiting this new theory we can obtain those regimes of the parameter space for a given total Hamiltonian defining our system-environment model for which a preferred basis of measurement can be realized. Moreover, we can predict the corresponding preferred basis of measurement for each regime. We can also obtain the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment in most of the other regimes where the pointer states of the system are time-dependent and a preferred basis of measurement cannot be realized at all. This ability to obtain time-dependent pointer states is specifically important in decoherence studies; as pointer states correspond to those initial conditions for the state of the system and the environment for which we can have longer decoherence times.
We consider a spin-boson Hamiltonian which is generalized such that the Hamiltonians for the system (H^S\hat{H}_{\cal S}H^S​) and the interaction with the environment (H^int\hat{H}_{\rm int}H^int​) do not commute with each other. Considering a single-mode quantized field in exact resonance with the tunneling matrix element of the system, we obtain the time-evolution operator for our model. Using our time-evolution operator we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment (which are characterized by their ability not to entangle with each other) for the case that the environment initially is prepared in the coherent state. We show that our solution for the pointer states of the system and the environment is valid over a length of time which is proportional to nˉ\bar{n}nˉ, the average number of bosons in the environment. We also obtain a closed form for the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We show that for the case that the system initially is prepared in one of its pointer states, the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system will be a \emph{sinusoidal function} with a slow decaying envelope which is characterized by a decay time proportional to nˉ\bar{n}nˉ; while it will experience a much faster decoherence, when the system initially is \emph{not} prepared in one of its initial pointer states.
We consider the quantized atom-field model and for the regime ; where , and respectively represent the self-Hamiltonians of the environment, the system, and the interaction between the system and the environment. Considering a single-mode quantized field we obtain the time evolution operator for the model. Using our time evolution operator we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment, which are characterized by their property of not entangling with states of another subsystem. We obtain a closed form expression for the off-diagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We show that for the case where the system initially is not prepared in one of its pointer states, the off-diagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system decays with a decoherence time that is inversely proportional to the square root of the mass of the bosonic field particles.
We consider the quantized atom-field model and for the regime that H^E≪H^S≪H′^\hat{H}_{\cal E}\ll\hat{H}_{\cal S}\ll\hat{H'}H^E​≪H^S​≪H′^ (but H^E≠0\hat{H}_{\cal E}\neq0H^E​=0 and H^S≠0\hat{H}_{\cal S}\neq0H^S​=0); where H^E\hat{H}_{\cal E}H^E​, H^S\hat{H}_{\cal S}H^S​ and H′^\hat{H'}H′^ respectively represent the self Hamiltonians of the environment and the system, and the interaction between the system and the environment. Considering a single-mode quantized field we obtain the time-evolution operator for the model. Using our time-evolution operator we calculate the time-dependent pointer states of the system and the environment (which are characterized by their ability not to entangle with states of another subsystem) by assuming an initial state of the environment in the form of a Gaussian package in position space. We obtain a closed form for the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system and study the decoherence of the central system in our model. We will show that for the case that the system initially is not prepared in one of its pointer states, the offdiagonal element of the reduced density matrix of the system will decay with a decoherence time which is inversely proportional to the square root of the mass of the bosonic field particles.
We report and give an alternative derivation of some results on a model for a quantum measurement studied in [1]. The measured microscopic system is coupled to the position of a macroscopic pointer, which itself interacts with its environment via its momentum. The entanglement between the system and the pointer produced by their mutual interaction is simultaneous with the decoherence of distinct pointer readings resulting from leakage of information to the environment. After a discussion on the various time scales in the model we calculate the matrix elements of the system-pointer density operator between eigenstates of the measured observable with distinct eigenvalues. In general, the decay with time of these coherences is neither exponential nor gaussian. We determine the decoherence (decay) time in terms of the strength of the system-pointer and pointer-environment couplings. This decoherence time does not depend upon the details of the pointer-bath coupling as soon as it is smaller than the bath correlation time (non-Markov regime). In contrast, in the Markov regime it depends strongly on whether this coupling is Ohmic or super-Ohmic.
We consider the interaction of a quantum system (spin-12)\frac{1}{2})21​) with a macroscopic quantum apparatus (harmonic oscillator) which in turn is coupled to a bath of harmonic oscillators. Exact solutions of the Markovian master equation show that the reduced density matrix of the system-apparatus combination decoheres to a statistical mixture where up and down spins eventually correlate with pointer states of the apparatus (harmonic oscillator), with associated probabilities in accordance with quantum principles. For the zero-temperature bath these pointer states turn out to be coherent states of the harmonic oscillator (apparatus) for arbitrary initial states of the apparatus. Further, we see that the decoherence time is inversely proportional to the square of the separation between the two coherent states with which the spins correlate. For a high-temperature bath, pointer states no longer remain coherent states but are Gaussian distributions (generalized coherent states). Spin up and down states of the system now correlate with nearly diagonal distributions in position of these generalized coherent states. The diagonalization in position increases with the temperature of the bath. The off-diagonal elements in spin space decohere over a time scale which goes inversely as the square of the separation between the peaks of the two position distributions that correlate with the spin states. Zurek's earlier approximate result for the decoherence time is consistent with our exact results. Our analysis brings out the importance of looking at a measurementlike scenario where definite correlations are established between the system and apparatus to determine the nature of the pointer basis of the apparatus. Further, our exact results demonstrate in an unambiguous way that the pointer states in this measurement model emerge independent of the initial state of the apparatus.