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/9404147 · Physical Review Letters

Exponential Behavior of a Quantum System in a Macroscopic Medium

Hiromichi Nakazato, Mikio Namiki, Saverio Pascazio

Published Aug 22, 1994• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

An exponential behavior at all times is derived for a solvable dynamical model in the weak-coupling macroscopic limit. Some implications for the quantum measurement problems are discussed, in particular in connection with dissipation.
DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.73.1063

Related papers

Decoherence and Exponential Law: A Solvable Model

Saverio Pascazio, Mikio Namiki

We analyze a modified version of the 'AgBr' Hamiltonian, solve exactly the equations of motion in terms of SU(2) coherent states, and study the weak-coupling, macroscopic limit of the model, obtaining an exponential behavior at all times. The asymptotic dominance of the exponential behavior is representative of a purely stochastic evolution and can be derived quantum mechanically in the so-called van Hove's limit (which is a weak-coupling, macroscopic limit). At the same time, a temporal behavior of the exponential type, yielding a 'probability dissipation' is closely related to dephasing ('decoherence') effects and one can expect a close connection with a dissipative and irreversible behavior. We stress the central relevance of the problem of dissipation to the quantum measurement theory and to the general topic of decoherence.

•Jan 1, 1996•0 citations

ON THE SHORT-TIME BEHAVIOR OF QUANTUM MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Hiromichi Nakazato, Saverio Pascazio

The conditions that yield deviations from a purely exponential behavior of a quantum mechanical system at short times are analyzed with special emphasis on the boundedness of the Hamiltonian. A few practical examples are considered. The problem of dissipation in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory is also briefly discussed.

Modern Physics Letters A•Dec 28, 1995•6 citations

TEMPORAL BEHAVIOR OF QUANTUM MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Hiromichi Nakazato, Mikio Namiki, Saverio Pascazio

The temporal behavior of quantum mechanical systems is reviewed. We mainly focus our attention on the time development of the so-called “survival” probability of those systems that are initially prepared in eigenstates of the unperturbed Hamiltonian, by assuming that the latter has a continuous spectrum. The exponential decay of the survival probability, familiar, for example, in radioactive decay phenomena, is representative of a purely probabilistic character of the system under consideration and is naturally expected to lead to a master equation. This behavior, however, can be found only at intermediate times, for deviations from it exist both at short and long times and can have significant consequences. After a short introduction to the long history of the research on the temporal behavior of such quantum mechanical systems, the short-time behavior and its controversial consequences when it is combined with von Neumann’s projection postulate in quantum measurement theory are critically overviewed from a dynamical point of view. We also discuss the so-called quantum Zeno effect from this standpoint. The behavior of the survival amplitude is then scrutinized by investigating the analytic properties of its Fourier and Laplace transforms. The analytic property that there is no singularity except a branch cut running along the real energy axis in the first Riemannian sheet is an important reflection of the time-reversal invariance of the dynamics governing the whole process. It is shown that the exponential behavior is due to the presence of a simple pole in the second Riemannian sheet, while the contribution of the branch point yields a power behavior for the amplitude. The exponential decay form is cancelled at short times and dominated at very long times by the branch-point contributions, which give a Gaussian behavior for the former and a power behavior for the latter. In order to realize the exponential law in quantum theory, it is essential to take into account a certain kind of macroscopic nature of the total system, since the exponential behavior is regarded as a manifestation of a complete loss of coherence of the quantum subsystem under consideration. In this respect, a few attempts at extracting the exponential decay form on the basis of quantum theory, aiming at the master equation, are briefly reviewed, including van Hove’s pioneering work and his well-known “λ2T” limit. In the attempt to further clarify the mechanism of the appearance of a purely probabilistic behavior without resort to any approximation, a solvable dynamical model is presented and extensively studied. The model describes an ultrarelativistic particle interacting with N two-level systems (called “spins”) and is shown to exhibit an exponential behavior at all times in the weak-coupling, macroscopic limit. Furthermore, it is shown that the model can even reproduce the short-time Gaussian behavior followed by the exponential law when an appropriate initial state is chosen. The analysis is exact and no approximation is involved. An interpretation for the change of the temporal behavior in quantum systems is drawn from the results obtained. Some implications for the quantum measurement problem are also discussed, in particular in connection with dissipation.

arXiv:quant-ph/9509016•International Journal of Modern Physics B•Jan 30, 1996•208 citations

Dissipative behavior of a quantum system interacting with a macroscopic medium

Raffaella Blasi, Hiromichi Nakazato, Mikio Namiki +1 more

Physics Letters A•Dec 1, 1996•3 citations

Macroscopicity and Localization in the Measurement Space

A. B. Klimov, C. Muñoz, Mario Gaeta

The concepts of macroscopicity and localization for large quantum systems is discussed and analyzed in relation with the asymptotic evolution in the measurement space under action of random and chaotic Hamiltonians.

Latin America Optics and Photonics Conference•Jan 1, 2014•0 citations

Macroscopic limit of a solvable dynamical model

Hiromichi Nakazato, Saverio Pascazio

The interaction between an ultrarelativistic particle and a linear array made up of N two-level systems (AgBr molecules) is studied by making use of a modified version of the Coleman-Hepp Hamiltonian. Energy-exchange processes between the particle and the molecules are properly taken into account, and the evolution of the total system is calculated exactly both when the array is initially in the ground state and in a thermal state. In the weak-coupling, macroscopic (N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}) limit, the system remains solvable and leads to interesting connections with the Jaynes-Cummings model, which describes the interaction of a particle with a maser. The visibility of the interference pattern produced by the two branch waves of the particle is computed, and the conditions under which the spin array behaves as a ``detector'' are investigated. The behavior of the visibility yields good insights into the issue of quantum measurements: It is found that, in the N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} limit, a superselection-rule space appears in the description of the (macroscopic) apparatus. In general, an initial thermal state of the ``detector'' provokes a more substantial loss of quantum coherence than an initial ground state. It is argued that a system increasingly loses coherence as the temperature of the detector increases. The problem of ``imperfect measurements'' is also briefly discussed.

arXiv:hep-th/9301116•Physical Review A•Aug 1, 1993•36 citations
We analyze a modified version of the 'AgBr' Hamiltonian, solve exactly the equations of motion in terms of SU(2) coherent states, and study the weak-coupling, macroscopic limit of the model, obtaining an exponential behavior at all times. The asymptotic dominance of the exponential behavior is representative of a purely stochastic evolution and can be derived quantum mechanically in the so-called van Hove's limit (which is a weak-coupling, macroscopic limit). At the same time, a temporal behavior of the exponential type, yielding a 'probability dissipation' is closely related to dephasing ('decoherence') effects and one can expect a close connection with a dissipative and irreversible behavior. We stress the central relevance of the problem of dissipation to the quantum measurement theory and to the general topic of decoherence.
The temporal behavior of quantum mechanical systems is reviewed. We mainly focus our attention on the time development of the so-called “survival” probability of those systems that are initially prepared in eigenstates of the unperturbed Hamiltonian, by assuming that the latter has a continuous spectrum. The exponential decay of the survival probability, familiar, for example, in radioactive decay phenomena, is representative of a purely probabilistic character of the system under consideration and is naturally expected to lead to a master equation. This behavior, however, can be found only at intermediate times, for deviations from it exist both at short and long times and can have significant consequences. After a short introduction to the long history of the research on the temporal behavior of such quantum mechanical systems, the short-time behavior and its controversial consequences when it is combined with von Neumann’s projection postulate in quantum measurement theory are critically overviewed from a dynamical point of view. We also discuss the so-called quantum Zeno effect from this standpoint. The behavior of the survival amplitude is then scrutinized by investigating the analytic properties of its Fourier and Laplace transforms. The analytic property that there is no singularity except a branch cut running along the real energy axis in the first Riemannian sheet is an important reflection of the time-reversal invariance of the dynamics governing the whole process. It is shown that the exponential behavior is due to the presence of a simple pole in the second Riemannian sheet, while the contribution of the branch point yields a power behavior for the amplitude. The exponential decay form is cancelled at short times and dominated at very long times by the branch-point contributions, which give a Gaussian behavior for the former and a power behavior for the latter. In order to realize the exponential law in quantum theory, it is essential to take into account a certain kind of macroscopic nature of the total system, since the exponential behavior is regarded as a manifestation of a complete loss of coherence of the quantum subsystem under consideration. In this respect, a few attempts at extracting the exponential decay form on the basis of quantum theory, aiming at the master equation, are briefly reviewed, including van Hove’s pioneering work and his well-known “λ2T” limit. In the attempt to further clarify the mechanism of the appearance of a purely probabilistic behavior without resort to any approximation, a solvable dynamical model is presented and extensively studied. The model describes an ultrarelativistic particle interacting with N two-level systems (called “spins”) and is shown to exhibit an exponential behavior at all times in the weak-coupling, macroscopic limit. Furthermore, it is shown that the model can even reproduce the short-time Gaussian behavior followed by the exponential law when an appropriate initial state is chosen. The analysis is exact and no approximation is involved. An interpretation for the change of the temporal behavior in quantum systems is drawn from the results obtained. Some implications for the quantum measurement problem are also discussed, in particular in connection with dissipation.
The interaction between an ultrarelativistic particle and a linear array made up of N two-level systems (AgBr molecules) is studied by making use of a modified version of the Coleman-Hepp Hamiltonian. Energy-exchange processes between the particle and the molecules are properly taken into account, and the evolution of the total system is calculated exactly both when the array is initially in the ground state and in a thermal state. In the weak-coupling, macroscopic (N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}) limit, the system remains solvable and leads to interesting connections with the Jaynes-Cummings model, which describes the interaction of a particle with a maser. The visibility of the interference pattern produced by the two branch waves of the particle is computed, and the conditions under which the spin array behaves as a ``detector'' are investigated. The behavior of the visibility yields good insights into the issue of quantum measurements: It is found that, in the N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} limit, a superselection-rule space appears in the description of the (macroscopic) apparatus. In general, an initial thermal state of the ``detector'' provokes a more substantial loss of quantum coherence than an initial ground state. It is argued that a system increasingly loses coherence as the temperature of the detector increases. The problem of ``imperfect measurements'' is also briefly discussed.