Quantum coherence, dissipation and measurement theory

Daniel F. Walls, Gerard J Milburn

Raúl Puente, Zilin Chen, Herman Batelaan

Decoherence can be provided by a dissipative environment as described by the Caldeira-Leggett equation. This equation is foundational to the theory of quantum dissipation. However, no experimental test has been performed that measures for one physical system both the dissipation and the decoherence. Anglin and Zurek predicted that a resistive surface could provide such a dissipative environment for a free electron wave passing close to it. We propose that the electron wave's coherence and energy loss can be measured simultaneously by using Kapitza-Dirac scattering for varying light intensity.

Raúl Puente, Zilin Chen, Herman Batelaan

Abstract Decoherence can be provided by a dissipative environment as described by the Caldeira–Leggett equation. This equation is foundational to the theory of quantum dissipation. However, no experimental test has been performed that measures for one physical system both the dissipation and the decoherence. Anglin and Zurek predicted that a resistive surface could provide such a dissipative environment for a free electron wave passing close to it. We propose that the electron wave’s coherence and energy loss can be measured simultaneously by using Kapitza–Dirac scattering for varying light intensity.

Daniel F. Walls, Gerard J Milburn

Sudip Chakravarty

Yu Liu, Hong‐Mei Zou, Mao-Fa Fang

Quantum coherence and non-Markovianity of an atom in a dissipative cavity under weak measurement are investigated in this work. We find that: the quantum coherence obviously depends on the initial atomic state, the strength of the weak measurement and its reversal, the atom–cavity coupling constant and the non-Markovian effect. It is obvious that the weak measurement effect protects the coherence better. The quantum coherence is preserved more efficiently for larger atom– cavity coupling. The stronger the non-Markovian effect is, the more slowly the coherence reduces. The quantum coherence can be effectively protected by means of controlling these physical parameters.