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:hep-th/0506242 · Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields

Liouville decoherence in a model of flavor oscillations in the presence of dark energy

Nick E. Mavromatos, Sarben Sarkar

Published Sep 22, 2005• 42 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We study in some detail the master equation, and its solution in a simplified case modelling flavor oscillations of a two-level system, stemming from the Liouville-string approach to quantum space-time foam. In this framework we discuss the appearance of diffusion terms and decoherence due to the interaction of low-energy string matter with space-time defects, such as D-particles in the specific model of ``D-particle foam,'' as well as dark-energy contributions. We pay particular attention to contrasting the decoherent role of a cosmological constant in inducing exponential quantum damping in the evolution of low-energy observables, such as the probability of flavor oscillations, with the situation where the dark-energy relaxes to zero for asymptotically large times, in which case such a damping is absent. Our findings may be of interest to (astrophysical) tests of quantum space-time foam models in the not-so-distant future.

DOI
10.1103/physrevd.72.065016

Related papers

Quantum Decoherence in a D-Foam Background

John R. Ellis, Nick E. Mavromatos, D.V. Nanopoulos

Within the general framework of Liouville string theory, we construct a model for quantum D-brane fluctuations in the space–time background through which light closed-string states propagate. The model is based on monopole and vortex defects on the worldsheet, which have been discussed previously in a treatment of (1+1)-dimensional black hole fluctuations in the space–time background, and makes use of a T-duality transformation to relate formulations with Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions. In accordance with previous general arguments, we derive an open quantum-mechanical description of this D-brane foam which embodies momentum and energy conservation and small mean energy fluctuations. Quantum decoherence effects appear at a rate consistent with previous estimates.

arXiv:hep-th/9704169•Modern Physics Letters A•Aug 10, 1997•40 citations

Spacetime Foam as a Quantum Thermal Bath

Luis J. Garay

An effective model for the spacetime foam is constructed in terms of nonlocal interactions in a classical background. In the weak-coupling approximation, the evolution of the low-energy density matrix is determined by a master equation that predicts loss of quantum coherence. Moreover, spacetime foam can be described by a quantum thermal field that, apart from inducing loss of coherence, gives rise to effects such as gravitational Lamb and Stark shifts as well as quantum damping in the evolution of the low-energy observables.

arXiv:gr-qc/9801024•Physical Review Letters•Mar 23, 1998•139 citations

The omega effect for neutral mesons

Sarben Sarkar

The possible role of decoherence due to space-time foam is discussed within the context of two models, one based on string/brane theory. and the other based on properties of black hole horizons in general relativity. It is argued that the density matrix satisfies a dissipative master equation, primarily from the study of renormalization group flows in non-critical string theory.This interpretation of the zero mode of the Liouville field as time leads necessarily to the CPT operator being ill defined. One striking consequence is that the quantum mechanical correlations of pair states of neutral mesons produced in meson factories are changed from the usual EPR state. The magnitude of this departure from EPR correlations is characterised by a parameter $ω$. The predicted value of $ω$ is very small or zero. However it is shown explicitly that the the non-vanishing of $ω$ is only a feature of the model based on string/brane theory.

arXiv:0904.4556•Journal of Physics Conference Series•Jun 1, 2009•1 citation

Probing Models of Quantum Decoherence in Particle Physics and Cosmology

Nick E. Mavromatos, Sarben Sarkar

In this review we first discuss the string theoretical motivations for induced decoherence and deviations from ordinary quantum-mechanical behaviour; this leads to intrinsic CPT violation in the context of an extended class of quantum-gravity models. We then proceed to a description ofprecision tests of CPT symmetry and quantum mechanics using mainly neutral kaons and neutrinos. We also emphasize the possibly unique role of neutral meson factories in providing specific tests of models where the quantum-mechanical CPT operator is not well-defined, leading to modifications of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen particle correlators. Finally, we discuss experimental probes of decoherence in a cosmological context, including studies of dissipative relaxation models of dark energy in the context of non-critical (non-equilibrium) string theory and the associated modifications of the Boltzmann equation for the evolution of species abundances.

arXiv:hep-ph/0612193•Dec 15, 2006•4 citations

The Omega Effect for Neutral Mesons

Sarben Sarkar

Abstract. The possible role of decoherence due to space-time foam is discussed within the context of two models, one based on string/brane theory. and the other based on properties of black hole horizons in general relativity. It is argued that the density matrix satisfies a dissipative master equation, primarily from the study of renormalization group flows in non-critical string theory.This interpretation of the zero mode of the Liouville field as time leads necessarily to the CPT operator being ill defined. One striking consequence is that the quantum mechanical correlations of pair states of neutral mesons produced in meson factories are changed from the usual EPR state. The magnitude of this departure from EPR correlations is characterised by a parameter ω. The predicted value of ω is very small or zero. However it is shown explicitly that the the non-vanishing of ω is only a feature of the model based on string/brane theory. 1.

•Jan 1, 2009•1 citation

Decoherence from quantum spacetime noise: An open-systems framework with application to neutrino oscillations

Partha Nandi, Tiasha Bhattacharyya, A. S. Majumdar +2 more

We present a general open-quantum-systems framework to model decoherence induced by stochastic Planck-scale fluctuations of spacetime, focusing on the kappa-Minkowski noncommutative geometry as a representative quantum-gravity scenario. Treating the deformation parameter as Gaussian white noise, we derive a Lindblad-type master equation applicable to arbitrary quantum systems and obtain a distinctive inverse-energy scaling of the decoherence rate, Gamma proportional to E^{-4}. As an illustrative example, we analyze a three-level system motivated by neutrino flavor oscillations and derive closed-form expressions for survival and transition probabilities with spacetime-induced damping. The E^{-4} scaling contrasts sharply with the positive power laws often invoked in quantum-gravity phenomenology and predicts negligible decoherence for high-energy neutrinos consistent with IceCube observations, while implying that the strongest effects arise in the extreme low-energy regime. In this context, the sub-eV-scale energies characteristic of the cosmic neutrino background provide a natural infrared benchmark for illustrating the enhanced sensitivity to quantum-spacetime fluctuations. Our results establish a unified formalism connecting quantum-information methods, open-system dynamics, and quantum-spacetime phenomenology, thereby offering a framework for exploring potential signatures of Planck-scale physics in future low-energy neutrino studies.

arXiv:2503.13061•Mar 17, 2025•0 citations
We study in some detail the master equation, and its solution in a simplified case modelling flavor oscillations of a two-level system, stemming from the Liouville-string approach to quantum space-time foam. In this framework we discuss the appearance of diffusion terms and decoherence due to the interaction of low-energy string matter with space-time defects, such as D-particles in the specific model of ``D-particle foam,'' as well as dark-energy contributions. We pay particular attention to contrasting the decoherent role of a cosmological constant in inducing exponential quantum damping in the evolution of low-energy observables, such as the probability of flavor oscillations, with the situation where the dark-energy relaxes to zero for asymptotically large times, in which case such a damping is absent. Our findings may be of interest to (astrophysical) tests of quantum space-time foam models in the not-so-distant future.
Within the general framework of Liouville string theory, we construct a model for quantum D-brane fluctuations in the space–time background through which light closed-string states propagate. The model is based on monopole and vortex defects on the worldsheet, which have been discussed previously in a treatment of (1+1)-dimensional black hole fluctuations in the space–time background, and makes use of a T-duality transformation to relate formulations with Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions. In accordance with previous general arguments, we derive an open quantum-mechanical description of this D-brane foam which embodies momentum and energy conservation and small mean energy fluctuations. Quantum decoherence effects appear at a rate consistent with previous estimates.
An effective model for the spacetime foam is constructed in terms of nonlocal interactions in a classical background. In the weak-coupling approximation, the evolution of the low-energy density matrix is determined by a master equation that predicts loss of quantum coherence. Moreover, spacetime foam can be described by a quantum thermal field that, apart from inducing loss of coherence, gives rise to effects such as gravitational Lamb and Stark shifts as well as quantum damping in the evolution of the low-energy observables.
The possible role of decoherence due to space-time foam is discussed within the context of two models, one based on string/brane theory. and the other based on properties of black hole horizons in general relativity. It is argued that the density matrix satisfies a dissipative master equation, primarily from the study of renormalization group flows in non-critical string theory.This interpretation of the zero mode of the Liouville field as time leads necessarily to the CPT operator being ill defined. One striking consequence is that the quantum mechanical correlations of pair states of neutral mesons produced in meson factories are changed from the usual EPR state. The magnitude of this departure from EPR correlations is characterised by a parameter ωωω. The predicted value of ωωω is very small or zero. However it is shown explicitly that the the non-vanishing of ωωω is only a feature of the model based on string/brane theory.
In this review we first discuss the string theoretical motivations for induced decoherence and deviations from ordinary quantum-mechanical behaviour; this leads to intrinsic CPT violation in the context of an extended class of quantum-gravity models. We then proceed to a description ofprecision tests of CPT symmetry and quantum mechanics using mainly neutral kaons and neutrinos. We also emphasize the possibly unique role of neutral meson factories in providing specific tests of models where the quantum-mechanical CPT operator is not well-defined, leading to modifications of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen particle correlators. Finally, we discuss experimental probes of decoherence in a cosmological context, including studies of dissipative relaxation models of dark energy in the context of non-critical (non-equilibrium) string theory and the associated modifications of the Boltzmann equation for the evolution of species abundances.
Abstract. The possible role of decoherence due to space-time foam is discussed within the context of two models, one based on string/brane theory. and the other based on properties of black hole horizons in general relativity. It is argued that the density matrix satisfies a dissipative master equation, primarily from the study of renormalization group flows in non-critical string theory.This interpretation of the zero mode of the Liouville field as time leads necessarily to the CPT operator being ill defined. One striking consequence is that the quantum mechanical correlations of pair states of neutral mesons produced in meson factories are changed from the usual EPR state. The magnitude of this departure from EPR correlations is characterised by a parameter ω. The predicted value of ω is very small or zero. However it is shown explicitly that the the non-vanishing of ω is only a feature of the model based on string/brane theory. 1.
We present a general open-quantum-systems framework to model decoherence induced by stochastic Planck-scale fluctuations of spacetime, focusing on the kappa-Minkowski noncommutative geometry as a representative quantum-gravity scenario. Treating the deformation parameter as Gaussian white noise, we derive a Lindblad-type master equation applicable to arbitrary quantum systems and obtain a distinctive inverse-energy scaling of the decoherence rate, Gamma proportional to E^{-4}. As an illustrative example, we analyze a three-level system motivated by neutrino flavor oscillations and derive closed-form expressions for survival and transition probabilities with spacetime-induced damping. The E^{-4} scaling contrasts sharply with the positive power laws often invoked in quantum-gravity phenomenology and predicts negligible decoherence for high-energy neutrinos consistent with IceCube observations, while implying that the strongest effects arise in the extreme low-energy regime. In this context, the sub-eV-scale energies characteristic of the cosmic neutrino background provide a natural infrared benchmark for illustrating the enhanced sensitivity to quantum-spacetime fluctuations. Our results establish a unified formalism connecting quantum-information methods, open-system dynamics, and quantum-spacetime phenomenology, thereby offering a framework for exploring potential signatures of Planck-scale physics in future low-energy neutrino studies.