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/9611156 · Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields

Coarse grainings and irreversibility in quantum field theory

Charis Anastopoulos

Published Jul 15, 1997• 20 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In this paper we are interested in studying coarse graining in field theories using the language of quantum open systems. Motivated by the ideas of Hu and Calzetta on correlation histories we employ the Zwanzig projection technique to obtain evolution equations for relevant observables in self-interacting scalar field theories. Our coarse-graining operation consists in concentrating solely on the evolution of the correlation functions of degree less than $n,$ a treatment which corresponds to the familiar truncation of the BBKGY hierarchy at the $n$th level. We derive the equations governing the evolution of mean-field and two-point functions thus identifying the terms corresponding to dissipation and noise. We discuss possible applications of our formalism, the emergence of classical behavior, and the connection to the decoherent histories framework.

DOI
10.1103/physrevd.56.1009

Related papers

Classicality via hydrodynamics in quantum field theory

Charis Anastopoulos

Motivated by the consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics, we examine a simple model of hydrodynamic coarse-graining for a scalar field. It consists in averaging the field over spatial regions of size L and constructing the evolution equation for the coarse grained quantities, thus identifying dissipation and noise.

arXiv:gr-qc/9805074•May 19, 1998•5 citations

Decoherence of Correlation Histories

Esteban Calzetta, B. L. Hu

We use a λΦ 4 scalar quantum field theory to illustrate a new approach to the study of quantum to classical transition. In this approach, the decoherence functional is employed to assign probabilities to consistent histories defined in terms of correlations among the fields at separate points, rather than the field itself. We present expressions for the quantum amplitudes associated with such histories, as well as for the decoherence functional between two of them. The dynamics of an individual consistent history may be described by a Langevintype equation, which we derive. Dedicated to Professor Brill on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, August 1993 Introduction Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics and Paradigms of Statistical Mechanics This paper attempts to bring together two basic concepts, one from the foundations of statistical mechanics and the other from the foundations of quantum mechanics, for the purpose of addressing two basic issues in physics: the quantum to classical transition, and the quantum origin of stochastic dynamics. Both issues draw in the interlaced effects of dissipation, decoherence, noise, and fluctuation. A central concern is the role played by coarse-graining —the naturalness of its choice, the effectiveness of its implementation and the relevance of its consequences.

arXiv:gr-qc/9302013•Cambridge University Press eBooks•Nov 16, 1956•35 citations

Correlations, Decoherence, Dissipation, and Noise in Quantum Field Theory

Esteban Calzetta, B. L. Hu

The statistical mechanical properties of interacting quantum fields in terms of the dynamics of the correlation functions are investigated. We show how the Dyson - Schwinger equations may be derived from a formal action functional, the n-particle irreducible ($nPI, n \to \infty$) or the `master' effective action. It is related to the decoherence functional between histories defined in terms of correlations. Upon truncation of the Dyson - Schwinger hierarchy at a certain order, the master effective action becomes complex, its imaginary part arising from the higher order correlation functions, the fluctuations of which we define as the correlation noises of that order. Decoherence of correlation histories via these noises gives rise to classical stochastic histories %driven by the flucutations of these higher correlation functions. Ordinary quantum field theory corresponds to taking the lowest order functions, usually the mean field and the 2-point functions. As such, our reasoning shows that it is an effective theory which can be intrinsically dissipative. The relation of loop expansion and correlation order as well as the introduction of an arrow of time from the choice of boundary conditions are expounded with regard to the origin of dissipation in quantum fields. Relation with critical phenomena, quantum transport, molecular hydrodynamics and potential applications to quantum gravity, early universe processes and black hole physics are mentioned.

arXiv:hep-th/9501040•Talk given at•Jan 12, 1995•24 citations

Classical equations for quantum systems

Murray Gell‐Mann, James B. Hartle

The origin of the phenomenological deterministic laws that approximately govern the quasiclassical domain of familiar experience is considered in the context of the quantum mechanics of closed systems such as the universe as a whole. A formulation of quantum mechanics is used that predicts probabilities for the individual members of a set of alternative coarse-grained histories that decohere, which means that there is negligible quantum interference between the individual histories in the set. We investigate the requirements for coarse grainings to yield decoherent sets of histories that are quasiclassical, i.e., such that the individual histories obey, with high probability, effective classical equations of motion interrupted continually by small fluctuations and occasionally by large ones. We discuss these requirements generally but study them specifically for coarse grainings of the type that follows a distinguished subset of a complete set of variables while ignoring the rest. More coarse graining is needed to achieve decoherence than would be suggested by naive arguments based on the uncertainty principle. Even coarser graining is required in the distinguished variables for them to have the necessary inertia to approach classical predictability in the presence of the noise consisting of the fluctuations that typical mechanisms of decoherence produce. We describe the derivation of phenomenological equations of motion explicitly for a particular class of models. Those models assume configuration space and a fundamental Lagrangian that is the difference between a kinetic energy quadratic in the velocities and a potential energy. The distinguished variables are taken to be a fixed subset of coordinates of configuration space. The initial density matrix of the closed system is assumed to factor into a product of a density matrix in the distinguished subset and another in the rest of the coordinates. With these restrictions, we improve the derivation from quantum mechanics of the phenomenological equations of motion governing a quasiclassical domain in the following respects: Probabilities of the correlations in time that define equations of motion are explicitly considered. Fully nonlinear cases are studied. Methods are exhibited for finding the form of the phenomenological equations of motion even when these are only distantly related to those of the fundamental action. The demonstration of the connection between quantum-mechanical causality and causality in classical phenomenological equations of motion is generalized. The connections among decoherence, noise, dissipation, and the amount of coarse graining necessary to achieve classical predictability are investigated quantitatively. Routes to removing the restrictions on the models in order to deal with more realistic coarse grainings are described.

arXiv:gr-qc/9210010•Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields•Apr 15, 1993•930 citations

Derivation of the quantum-optical master equation based on coarse-graining of time

Kevin A. Fischer

This is a derivation of the quantum-optical master equation using coarse-graining of time, which aims at exploring Markovian evolution from a microscopic perspective. Here, coarse-graining refers to finding an approximate evolution operator by integrating over a time step Δ t , and considering the field states to be approximated by a similarly coarse-grained basis. By using these ideas and keeping the field states coarse-grained throughout the derivation, I explore the past-future independence of the quantum white noise formalism explicitly. Namely, that a quantum-optical system interacting with a vacuum field may be viewed as sequentially interacting with a series of initially uncorrelated and temporally coarse-grained vacuum states—this process leads to correlations only between the system and the time bins which have interacted with the system in the past, along with a Markovian evolution of the reduced system state. The derivation here may also be viewed in terms of a type of quantum-mechanical path integral.

arXiv:1712.00144•Journal of Physics Communications•Aug 17, 2018•9 citations

Decoherent Histories and Quantum Maps

Artur Scherer

Discrete maps play an important role in the investigation \nof dynamical features of complex classical systems, especially \nwithin the theory of chaos. Similarly, quantum maps have proven \nto be a very useful mathematical tool within the study of complex \nquantum dynamical systems. Using the decoherent histories formulation \nof quantum mechanics we consider a particular framework for studying \nquantum maps which is motivated by the method of classical symbolic \ndynamics. Symbolic dynamics is known to be a very powerful method \nspecifically invented for the purpose of representing classical dynamical \nsystems by a discrete model that is suitable for information theoretic studies. \nOur framework uses the decoherent histories formalism which, \nsimilarly to classical symbolic dynamics, allows one to introduce information \ntheoretic quantities with respect to system dynamics. \nOur research within this framework can be viewed as a contribution \ntowards the development of a general theory of "quantum \nsymbolic dynamics". \n\nWe start by considering a special but very important example \nfor a quantum map: the quantum baker's map, invented for \nthe theoretical investigation of quantum chaos. \nHere we use the decoherent histories formalism to examine \nthe coarse-grained evolution of this map \nwith regard to the question of how classical predictability of \nthe evolution depends on the character of coarse-graining. \n%is affected by the choice of coarse-graining. \nWe demonstrate that hierarchical coarse-grainings display \ninteresting features with respect to this question. \n\nWe proceed with the investigation of decoherence properties \nof arbitrary unitary quantum maps. A number of interesting results \nis obtained within the framework of arbitrarily long histories \nconstructed from a fixed projective partition of a finite \ndimensional Hilbert space. In particular, we derive simple \nnecessary decoherence conditions, which employ only a single \niteration of a given unitary quantum map. Furthermore, \na surprising result is obtained with regard to the \nfundamental question of how the choice of the \ninitial state affects decoherence of histories. \nWithin the considered framework we show that if decoherence \nis established for arbitrary history lengths and all initial \nstates from the smallest natural set of states that \ncan be associated with the framework, then we get decoherence \nof such histories for arbitrary initial states. \nFinally, we make first steps towards proving analogous\nresults for approximate decoherence and suggest \nvarious questions for future research.\n

•Jan 1, 2005•0 citations
In this paper we are interested in studying coarse graining in field theories using the language of quantum open systems. Motivated by the ideas of Hu and Calzetta on correlation histories we employ the Zwanzig projection technique to obtain evolution equations for relevant observables in self-interacting scalar field theories. Our coarse-graining operation consists in concentrating solely on the evolution of the correlation functions of degree less than n,n,n, a treatment which corresponds to the familiar truncation of the BBKGY hierarchy at the nnnth level. We derive the equations governing the evolution of mean-field and two-point functions thus identifying the terms corresponding to dissipation and noise. We discuss possible applications of our formalism, the emergence of classical behavior, and the connection to the decoherent histories framework.
We use a λΦ 4 scalar quantum field theory to illustrate a new approach to the study of quantum to classical transition. In this approach, the decoherence functional is employed to assign probabilities to consistent histories defined in terms of correlations among the fields at separate points, rather than the field itself. We present expressions for the quantum amplitudes associated with such histories, as well as for the decoherence functional between two of them. The dynamics of an individual consistent history may be described by a Langevintype equation, which we derive. Dedicated to Professor Brill on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, August 1993 Introduction Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics and Paradigms of Statistical Mechanics This paper attempts to bring together two basic concepts, one from the foundations of statistical mechanics and the other from the foundations of quantum mechanics, for the purpose of addressing two basic issues in physics: the quantum to classical transition, and the quantum origin of stochastic dynamics. Both issues draw in the interlaced effects of dissipation, decoherence, noise, and fluctuation. A central concern is the role played by coarse-graining —the naturalness of its choice, the effectiveness of its implementation and the relevance of its consequences.
The statistical mechanical properties of interacting quantum fields in terms of the dynamics of the correlation functions are investigated. We show how the Dyson - Schwinger equations may be derived from a formal action functional, the n-particle irreducible (nPI,n→∞nPI, n \to \inftynPI,n→∞) or the `master' effective action. It is related to the decoherence functional between histories defined in terms of correlations. Upon truncation of the Dyson - Schwinger hierarchy at a certain order, the master effective action becomes complex, its imaginary part arising from the higher order correlation functions, the fluctuations of which we define as the correlation noises of that order. Decoherence of correlation histories via these noises gives rise to classical stochastic histories %driven by the flucutations of these higher correlation functions. Ordinary quantum field theory corresponds to taking the lowest order functions, usually the mean field and the 2-point functions. As such, our reasoning shows that it is an effective theory which can be intrinsically dissipative. The relation of loop expansion and correlation order as well as the introduction of an arrow of time from the choice of boundary conditions are expounded with regard to the origin of dissipation in quantum fields. Relation with critical phenomena, quantum transport, molecular hydrodynamics and potential applications to quantum gravity, early universe processes and black hole physics are mentioned.
The origin of the phenomenological deterministic laws that approximately govern the quasiclassical domain of familiar experience is considered in the context of the quantum mechanics of closed systems such as the universe as a whole. A formulation of quantum mechanics is used that predicts probabilities for the individual members of a set of alternative coarse-grained histories that decohere, which means that there is negligible quantum interference between the individual histories in the set. We investigate the requirements for coarse grainings to yield decoherent sets of histories that are quasiclassical, i.e., such that the individual histories obey, with high probability, effective classical equations of motion interrupted continually by small fluctuations and occasionally by large ones. We discuss these requirements generally but study them specifically for coarse grainings of the type that follows a distinguished subset of a complete set of variables while ignoring the rest. More coarse graining is needed to achieve decoherence than would be suggested by naive arguments based on the uncertainty principle. Even coarser graining is required in the distinguished variables for them to have the necessary inertia to approach classical predictability in the presence of the noise consisting of the fluctuations that typical mechanisms of decoherence produce. We describe the derivation of phenomenological equations of motion explicitly for a particular class of models. Those models assume configuration space and a fundamental Lagrangian that is the difference between a kinetic energy quadratic in the velocities and a potential energy. The distinguished variables are taken to be a fixed subset of coordinates of configuration space. The initial density matrix of the closed system is assumed to factor into a product of a density matrix in the distinguished subset and another in the rest of the coordinates. With these restrictions, we improve the derivation from quantum mechanics of the phenomenological equations of motion governing a quasiclassical domain in the following respects: Probabilities of the correlations in time that define equations of motion are explicitly considered. Fully nonlinear cases are studied. Methods are exhibited for finding the form of the phenomenological equations of motion even when these are only distantly related to those of the fundamental action. The demonstration of the connection between quantum-mechanical causality and causality in classical phenomenological equations of motion is generalized. The connections among decoherence, noise, dissipation, and the amount of coarse graining necessary to achieve classical predictability are investigated quantitatively. Routes to removing the restrictions on the models in order to deal with more realistic coarse grainings are described.
This is a derivation of the quantum-optical master equation using coarse-graining of time, which aims at exploring Markovian evolution from a microscopic perspective. Here, coarse-graining refers to finding an approximate evolution operator by integrating over a time step Δ t , and considering the field states to be approximated by a similarly coarse-grained basis. By using these ideas and keeping the field states coarse-grained throughout the derivation, I explore the past-future independence of the quantum white noise formalism explicitly. Namely, that a quantum-optical system interacting with a vacuum field may be viewed as sequentially interacting with a series of initially uncorrelated and temporally coarse-grained vacuum states—this process leads to correlations only between the system and the time bins which have interacted with the system in the past, along with a Markovian evolution of the reduced system state. The derivation here may also be viewed in terms of a type of quantum-mechanical path integral.
Discrete maps play an important role in the investigation \nof dynamical features of complex classical systems, especially \nwithin the theory of chaos. Similarly, quantum maps have proven \nto be a very useful mathematical tool within the study of complex \nquantum dynamical systems. Using the decoherent histories formulation \nof quantum mechanics we consider a particular framework for studying \nquantum maps which is motivated by the method of classical symbolic \ndynamics. Symbolic dynamics is known to be a very powerful method \nspecifically invented for the purpose of representing classical dynamical \nsystems by a discrete model that is suitable for information theoretic studies. \nOur framework uses the decoherent histories formalism which, \nsimilarly to classical symbolic dynamics, allows one to introduce information \ntheoretic quantities with respect to system dynamics. \nOur research within this framework can be viewed as a contribution \ntowards the development of a general theory of "quantum \nsymbolic dynamics". \n\nWe start by considering a special but very important example \nfor a quantum map: the quantum baker's map, invented for \nthe theoretical investigation of quantum chaos. \nHere we use the decoherent histories formalism to examine \nthe coarse-grained evolution of this map \nwith regard to the question of how classical predictability of \nthe evolution depends on the character of coarse-graining. \n%is affected by the choice of coarse-graining. \nWe demonstrate that hierarchical coarse-grainings display \ninteresting features with respect to this question. \n\nWe proceed with the investigation of decoherence properties \nof arbitrary unitary quantum maps. A number of interesting results \nis obtained within the framework of arbitrarily long histories \nconstructed from a fixed projective partition of a finite \ndimensional Hilbert space. In particular, we derive simple \nnecessary decoherence conditions, which employ only a single \niteration of a given unitary quantum map. Furthermore, \na surprising result is obtained with regard to the \nfundamental question of how the choice of the \ninitial state affects decoherence of histories. \nWithin the considered framework we show that if decoherence \nis established for arbitrary history lengths and all initial \nstates from the smallest natural set of states that \ncan be associated with the framework, then we get decoherence \nof such histories for arbitrary initial states. \nFinally, we make first steps towards proving analogous\nresults for approximate decoherence and suggest \nvarious questions for future research.\n