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

arXiv:gr-qc/9301007 · Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields

Decoherence functional and probability interpretation

Yoshiaki Ohkuwa

Published Aug 15, 1993• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We confirm that the diagonal elements of the Gell-Mann-Hartle decoherence functional are equal to the relative frequencies of the results of many identical experiments, when a set of alternative histories decoheres. We consider both cases of the pure and mixed initial states.
DOI
10.1103/physrevd.48.1781

Related papers

Definition of decoherence

J. Finkelstein

We examine the relationship between the decoherence of quantum-mechanical histories of a closed system (as discussed by Gell-Mann and Hartle) and environmentally induced diagonalization of the density operator for an open system. We study a definition of decoherence which incorporates both of these ideas, and show that it leads to a consistent probabilistic interpretation of the reduced density operator.

arXiv:gr-qc/9301004•Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Jun 15, 1993•19 citations

A Review of the Decoherent Histories Approach to Quantum Mechanicsa

J. J. Halliwell

I review the decoherent (or consistent) histories approach to quantum mechanics, due to Griffiths, to Gell-Mann and Hartle, and to Omnes. This is an approach to standard quantum theory specifically designed to apply to genuinely closed systems, up to and including the entire universe. It does not depend on an assumed separation of classical and quantum domains, on notions of measurement, or on collapse of the wave function. Its primary aim is to find sets of histories for closed systems exhibiting negligble interference, and therefore, to which probabilities may be assigned. Such sets of histories are called consistent or decoherent, and may be manipulated according to the rules of ordinary (Boolean) logic. The approach provides a framework from which one may predict the emergence of an approximately classical domain for macroscopic systems, together with the conventional Copenhagen quantum mechanics for microscropic subsystems. In the special case in which the total closed system naturally separates into a distinguished subsystem coupled to an environment, the decoherent histories approach is closed related to the quantum state diffusion approach of Gisin and Percival.

arXiv:gr-qc/9407040•Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences•Apr 1, 1995•109 citations

Aspects of the Decoherent Histories Approach to Quantum Mechanics

J. J. Halliwell

I give an informal overview of the decoherent histories approach to quantum mechanics, due to Griffiths, to Omnès, and to Gell-Mann and Hartle is given. Results on the connections between decoherence, records, correlation and entropy are described. The emphasis of the presentation is on understanding the broader meaning of the conditions of consistency and decoherence, and in particular, the extent to which they permit one to assign definite properties to the system. The quantum Brownian motion model is briefly discussed. (To appear in proceedings of the workshop, "Stochastic Evolution of Quantum States in Open Systems and Measurement Processes", Budapest, March, 1993, edited by L.Diosi).

arXiv:gr-qc/9308005•Aug 6, 1993•4 citations

Properties of consistent sets

Fay Dowker B, Allan Kent

We describe some mathematical properties of consistent sets of histories in the Gell-Mann--Hartle formalism, and discuss their physical implications.

•Sep 18, 1994•3 citations

Quantum mechanics of history: The decoherence functional in quantum mechanics

Fay Dowker B, J. J. Halliwell

We study a formulation of quantum mechanics in which the central notion is that of a quantum-mechanical history---a sequence of events at a succession of times. The primary aim is to identify sets of ``decoherent'' (or ``consistent'') histories for the system. These are quantum-mechanical histories suffering negligible interference with each other, and, therefore, to which probabilities may be assigned. These histories may be found for a given system using the so-called decoherence functional. When the decoherence functional is exactly diagonal, probabilities may be assigned to the histories, and all probability sum rules are satisfied exactly. We propose a condition for approximate decoherence, and argue that it implies that most probability sum rules will be satisfied to approximately the same degree. We also derive an inequality bounding the size of the off-diagonal terms of the decoherence functional. We calculate the decoherence functional for some simple one-dimensional systems, with a variety of initial states. For these systems, we explore the extent to which decoherence is produced using two different types of coarse graining. The first type of coarse graining involves imprecise specification of the particle's position. The second involves coupling the particle to a thermal bath of harmonic oscillators and ignoring the details of the bath (the Caldeira-Leggett model). We argue that both types of coarse graining are necessary in general. We explicitly exhibit the degree of decoherence as a function of the temperature of the bath, and of the width to within which the particle's position is specified. We study the diagonal elements of the decoherence functional, representing the probabilities for the possible histories of the system. To the extent that the histories decohere, we show that the probability distributions are peaked about the classical histories of the system, with the distribution of their initial positions and momenta given by a smeared version of the Wigner function. We discuss this result in connection with earlier uses of the Wigner function in this context. We find that there is a certain amount of tension between the demands of decoherence and peaking about classical paths.

Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Aug 15, 1992•205 citations

The structure of decoherence functionals for von Neumann quantum histories

J. D. Maitland Wright

Gell-Mann and Hartle have proposed a significant generalization of quantum theory in which decoherence functionals perform a key role. Isham–Linden–Schreckenberg have given a penetrating analysis of decoherence functionals for L(H), where H is finite dimensional (dimension greater than 2). In this note their conjecture on the significance of boundedness is verified. In particular, it is shown that when d is a bounded decoherence functional associated with a von Neumann algebra A, then, provided A has no direct summand of type I2, d can be represented as the difference between semi-innerproducts on A.

Journal of Mathematical Physics•Oct 1, 1995•28 citations
I review the decoherent (or consistent) histories approach to quantum mechanics, due to Griffiths, to Gell-Mann and Hartle, and to Omnes. This is an approach to standard quantum theory specifically designed to apply to genuinely closed systems, up to and including the entire universe. It does not depend on an assumed separation of classical and quantum domains, on notions of measurement, or on collapse of the wave function. Its primary aim is to find sets of histories for closed systems exhibiting negligble interference, and therefore, to which probabilities may be assigned. Such sets of histories are called consistent or decoherent, and may be manipulated according to the rules of ordinary (Boolean) logic. The approach provides a framework from which one may predict the emergence of an approximately classical domain for macroscopic systems, together with the conventional Copenhagen quantum mechanics for microscropic subsystems. In the special case in which the total closed system naturally separates into a distinguished subsystem coupled to an environment, the decoherent histories approach is closed related to the quantum state diffusion approach of Gisin and Percival.
I give an informal overview of the decoherent histories approach to quantum mechanics, due to Griffiths, to Omnès, and to Gell-Mann and Hartle is given. Results on the connections between decoherence, records, correlation and entropy are described. The emphasis of the presentation is on understanding the broader meaning of the conditions of consistency and decoherence, and in particular, the extent to which they permit one to assign definite properties to the system. The quantum Brownian motion model is briefly discussed. (To appear in proceedings of the workshop, "Stochastic Evolution of Quantum States in Open Systems and Measurement Processes", Budapest, March, 1993, edited by L.Diosi).
We study a formulation of quantum mechanics in which the central notion is that of a quantum-mechanical history---a sequence of events at a succession of times. The primary aim is to identify sets of ``decoherent'' (or ``consistent'') histories for the system. These are quantum-mechanical histories suffering negligible interference with each other, and, therefore, to which probabilities may be assigned. These histories may be found for a given system using the so-called decoherence functional. When the decoherence functional is exactly diagonal, probabilities may be assigned to the histories, and all probability sum rules are satisfied exactly. We propose a condition for approximate decoherence, and argue that it implies that most probability sum rules will be satisfied to approximately the same degree. We also derive an inequality bounding the size of the off-diagonal terms of the decoherence functional. We calculate the decoherence functional for some simple one-dimensional systems, with a variety of initial states. For these systems, we explore the extent to which decoherence is produced using two different types of coarse graining. The first type of coarse graining involves imprecise specification of the particle's position. The second involves coupling the particle to a thermal bath of harmonic oscillators and ignoring the details of the bath (the Caldeira-Leggett model). We argue that both types of coarse graining are necessary in general. We explicitly exhibit the degree of decoherence as a function of the temperature of the bath, and of the width to within which the particle's position is specified. We study the diagonal elements of the decoherence functional, representing the probabilities for the possible histories of the system. To the extent that the histories decohere, we show that the probability distributions are peaked about the classical histories of the system, with the distribution of their initial positions and momenta given by a smeared version of the Wigner function. We discuss this result in connection with earlier uses of the Wigner function in this context. We find that there is a certain amount of tension between the demands of decoherence and peaking about classical paths.
Gell-Mann and Hartle have proposed a significant generalization of quantum theory in which decoherence functionals perform a key role. Isham–Linden–Schreckenberg have given a penetrating analysis of decoherence functionals for L(H), where H is finite dimensional (dimension greater than 2). In this note their conjecture on the significance of boundedness is verified. In particular, it is shown that when d is a bounded decoherence functional associated with a von Neumann algebra A, then, provided A has no direct summand of type I2, d can be represented as the difference between semi-innerproducts on A.