Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Interferência quântica com objetos complexos

J. A. B. Coelho

Published Apr 15, 2008• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In this work, we analyze the effect of an object's internal degrees of freedom on its center of mass dynamics in order to determine its relevance to decoherence processes in double slit experiments.We show that these degrees of freedom couple to the center of mass in the presence of a potential that breaks the translational invariance of the system, and in so doing, act as an environment that evolves together with the object's center of mass.Using a scattering approach, we compute the density operator of the system composed of its center of mass and relative coordinates, in the Born approximation, for elastic scattering.We argue how this density operator gives us information about inelastic processes and conclude that, within the Born approximation, geometric constraints prevent the internal degrees of freedom from acting as a relevant factor for decoherence.vi

DOI
10.47749/t/unicamp.2008.428070

Related papers

Decoherence by coupling to internal vibrational modes

Todd A. Brun, Leonard D. Mlodinow

We consider a composite system consisting of coupled particles, and investigate decoherence due to coupling of the center-of-mass degree of freedom to the internal vibrational degrees of freedom. For a composite system of bound particles, we show that in general such a decoherence effect exists, and leads to suppression of interference between different paths of the center-of-mass. For the special case of harmonically-bound particles moving in an external potential, we show that the coupling between the center-of-mass and internal degrees of freedom takes the form of parametric driving of the vibrational degrees of freedom, and that nontrivial coupling depends on the second derivative of the external potential. We find a solution to this parametric driving problem in one dimension for a fixed center-of-mass trajectory. We also propose a measure of compositeness, which quantifies the extent to which such a composite system cannot be approximated as a single, indivisible particle. We perform numerical simulations for a simple interference experiment, consisting of two wave packets scattering off of a square well, and show a close connection between suppression of interference and entanglement between the center-of-mass and internal degrees of freedom, which depends on the initial state of the internal mode. We also calculate the measure of compositeness for this system.

arXiv:1512.03845•Physical Review A•Nov 21, 2016•5 citations

Decoherence from Internal Dynamics in Macroscopic Matter-Wave Interferometry

Sang Wook Kim, Hwa-Kyun Park

Usually, decoherence is generated from the coupling with an outer environment. However, a macroscopic object generically possesses its own environment in itself, namely the complicated dynamics of internal degrees of freedom. We address a question: when and how the internal dynamics decohere interference of the center of mass motion of a macroscopic object. We will also show that weak localization of a macroscopic object in disordered potentials can be destroyed by such decoherence.

arXiv:quant-ph/0311115•Journal of the Physical Society of Japan•May 15, 2005•0 citations

Quantum mechanics for non-inertial observers

Marko Toroš, André Großardt, Angelo Bassi

A recent analysis by Pikovski et al. [Nat. Phys. 11, 668 (2015)] has triggered interest in the question of how to include relativistic corrections in the quantum dynamics governing many-particle systems in a gravitational field. Here we show how the center-of-mass motion of a quantum system subject to gravity can be derived more rigorously, addressing the ambiguous definition of relativistic center-of-mass coordinates. We further demonstrate that, contrary to the prediction by Pikovski et al., external forces play a crucial role in the relativistic coupling of internal and external degrees of freedom, resulting in a complete cancellation of the alleged coupling in Earth-bound laboratories for systems supported against gravity by an external force. We conclude that the proposed decoherence effect is an effect of relative acceleration between quantum system and measurement device, rather than a universal effect in gravitational fields.

arXiv:1701.04298•Jan 16, 2017•5 citations

Quantum Decoherence of Macroscopic Object Induced by Inner Environments: an Exactly Solvable Model

Zheng Li, Zheng Tai-Yu

We revisit the quantum decoherence problem of the center of mass motion of a macroscopic object, which is modelled as a one-dimensional atom chain. Induced by the coupling of the center of mass (C.M) motion with the inner degrees of freedom, this inner-environment-induced decoherence is reflected by the localization of the C.M wave packet. We show that, the C.M motion is coupled to the inner states only when the chain has interaction with the external potential. This result provides a realistic mechanism for the analysis of the inner-environment-induced localization of a macroscopic object.

Communications in Theoretical Physics•Feb 1, 2007•0 citations

Entropic Dynamics Approach to the Classical Limit of Quantum Mechanics: Decoupling of the Center of Mass Motion for a Mesoscopic Particle

Fatimah Judayba

In the Entropic Dynamics (ED) approach, quantum mechanics is derived from the principles of entropic inference and information geometry. The ED approach differs from other interpretations by making a clear commitment to distinguishing which variables are ontic (real) and which are epistemic. The classical limit for the center of mass (CM) coordinate is achieved for a large number of particles, M →∞, while Planck’s constant ℏ remains finite. Typically, the emergence of the classical limit requires decoherence through interactions with the external environment. In this work, we investigate whether the classical behavior of the CM coordinate in a mesoscopic system can instead be achieved through internal decoherence resulting from interactions of the CM with the particles of the system itself. Within the framework of entropic dynamics, we study how correlations between a system’s center of mass and its internal coordinates impact this transition. We look at mesoscopic systems placed in both uniform and non-uniform gravitational potentials using probabilistic forms of the Hamilton–Jacobi equation. In uniform fields, the center of mass remains independent of internal coordinates, maintaining quantum coherence. Meanwhile, non-uniform potentials create coupling that induces decoherence, leading to classical behavior. These results show correlation-induced information loss as a natural process for the quantum-to-classical transition and clarify how entropic dynamics provide a coherent, information-theoretic link between quantum and classical realms.

•Jan 1, 2026•0 citations

Aharonov-Bohm type effects and the interference of macro-molecules

S. A. R. Horsley, M. Babiker, M. R. Singh +1 more

Given that it is now possible to observe the interference of molecules with comparatively numerous internal degrees of freedom, we might wonder what role these extra degrees of freedom play in the traditional double‐slit experiment. Here we seek to understand the effect of these degrees of freedom in an Aharonov‐Bohm type experiment. We find, perhaps unsurprisingly that an ionised object can exhibit the Aharonov‐Bohm effect in a manner which is independent of its internal structure. Meanwhile, the Aharonov‐Bohm type effects involving objects with magnetic, or electric dipole moments (the Aharonov‐Casher and He‐McKellar‐Wilkens effects, respectively) depend explicitly upon the structure. When—due to some specified dynamics of the internal variables—an object’s dipole moment changes during the experiment, we find that the corresponding phase shift depends upon the time average and variance of the internal dynamics. Furthermore, given that the internal dynamics are, to an extent, dependent upon the centre of mass motion there is also a small, transient loss of coherence associated with each internal degree of freedom.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations
In this work, we analyze the effect of an object's internal degrees of freedom on its center of mass dynamics in order to determine its relevance to decoherence processes in double slit experiments.We show that these degrees of freedom couple to the center of mass in the presence of a potential that breaks the translational invariance of the system, and in so doing, act as an environment that evolves together with the object's center of mass.Using a scattering approach, we compute the density operator of the system composed of its center of mass and relative coordinates, in the Born approximation, for elastic scattering.We argue how this density operator gives us information about inelastic processes and conclude that, within the Born approximation, geometric constraints prevent the internal degrees of freedom from acting as a relevant factor for decoherence.vi
We consider a composite system consisting of coupled particles, and investigate decoherence due to coupling of the center-of-mass degree of freedom to the internal vibrational degrees of freedom. For a composite system of bound particles, we show that in general such a decoherence effect exists, and leads to suppression of interference between different paths of the center-of-mass. For the special case of harmonically-bound particles moving in an external potential, we show that the coupling between the center-of-mass and internal degrees of freedom takes the form of parametric driving of the vibrational degrees of freedom, and that nontrivial coupling depends on the second derivative of the external potential. We find a solution to this parametric driving problem in one dimension for a fixed center-of-mass trajectory. We also propose a measure of compositeness, which quantifies the extent to which such a composite system cannot be approximated as a single, indivisible particle. We perform numerical simulations for a simple interference experiment, consisting of two wave packets scattering off of a square well, and show a close connection between suppression of interference and entanglement between the center-of-mass and internal degrees of freedom, which depends on the initial state of the internal mode. We also calculate the measure of compositeness for this system.
A recent analysis by Pikovski et al. [Nat. Phys. 11, 668 (2015)] has triggered interest in the question of how to include relativistic corrections in the quantum dynamics governing many-particle systems in a gravitational field. Here we show how the center-of-mass motion of a quantum system subject to gravity can be derived more rigorously, addressing the ambiguous definition of relativistic center-of-mass coordinates. We further demonstrate that, contrary to the prediction by Pikovski et al., external forces play a crucial role in the relativistic coupling of internal and external degrees of freedom, resulting in a complete cancellation of the alleged coupling in Earth-bound laboratories for systems supported against gravity by an external force. We conclude that the proposed decoherence effect is an effect of relative acceleration between quantum system and measurement device, rather than a universal effect in gravitational fields.
We revisit the quantum decoherence problem of the center of mass motion of a macroscopic object, which is modelled as a one-dimensional atom chain. Induced by the coupling of the center of mass (C.M) motion with the inner degrees of freedom, this inner-environment-induced decoherence is reflected by the localization of the C.M wave packet. We show that, the C.M motion is coupled to the inner states only when the chain has interaction with the external potential. This result provides a realistic mechanism for the analysis of the inner-environment-induced localization of a macroscopic object.
In the Entropic Dynamics (ED) approach, quantum mechanics is derived from the principles of entropic inference and information geometry. The ED approach differs from other interpretations by making a clear commitment to distinguishing which variables are ontic (real) and which are epistemic. The classical limit for the center of mass (CM) coordinate is achieved for a large number of particles, M →∞, while Planck’s constant ℏ remains finite. Typically, the emergence of the classical limit requires decoherence through interactions with the external environment. In this work, we investigate whether the classical behavior of the CM coordinate in a mesoscopic system can instead be achieved through internal decoherence resulting from interactions of the CM with the particles of the system itself. Within the framework of entropic dynamics, we study how correlations between a system’s center of mass and its internal coordinates impact this transition. We look at mesoscopic systems placed in both uniform and non-uniform gravitational potentials using probabilistic forms of the Hamilton–Jacobi equation. In uniform fields, the center of mass remains independent of internal coordinates, maintaining quantum coherence. Meanwhile, non-uniform potentials create coupling that induces decoherence, leading to classical behavior. These results show correlation-induced information loss as a natural process for the quantum-to-classical transition and clarify how entropic dynamics provide a coherent, information-theoretic link between quantum and classical realms.
Given that it is now possible to observe the interference of molecules with comparatively numerous internal degrees of freedom, we might wonder what role these extra degrees of freedom play in the traditional double‐slit experiment. Here we seek to understand the effect of these degrees of freedom in an Aharonov‐Bohm type experiment. We find, perhaps unsurprisingly that an ionised object can exhibit the Aharonov‐Bohm effect in a manner which is independent of its internal structure. Meanwhile, the Aharonov‐Bohm type effects involving objects with magnetic, or electric dipole moments (the Aharonov‐Casher and He‐McKellar‐Wilkens effects, respectively) depend explicitly upon the structure. When—due to some specified dynamics of the internal variables—an object’s dipole moment changes during the experiment, we find that the corresponding phase shift depends upon the time average and variance of the internal dynamics. Furthermore, given that the internal dynamics are, to an extent, dependent upon the centre of mass motion there is also a small, transient loss of coherence associated with each internal degree of freedom.