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arXiv:quant-ph/0206146 · Optics and Spectroscopy

Feynman’s decoherence

Y. S. Kim, Marilyn E. Noz

Published May 1, 2003• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Gell-Mann’s quarks are coherent particles confined within a hadron at rest, but Feynman’s partons are incoherent particles which constitute a hadron moving with a velocity close to that of light. It is widely believed that the quark model and the parton model are two different manifestations of the same covariant entity. If this is the case, the question arises whether the Lorentz boost destroys coherence. It is pointed out that this is not the case, and it is possible to resolve this puzzle without inventing new physics. It is shown that this decoherence is due to the measurement processes which are less than complete.

DOI
10.1134/1.1576844

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Gell-Mann’s quarks are coherent particles confined within a hadron at rest, but Feynman’s partons are incoherent particles which constitute a hadron moving with a velocity close to that of light. It is widely believed that the quark model and the parton model are two different manifestations of the same covariant entity. If this is the case, the question arises whether the Lorentz boost destroys coherence. It is pointed out that this is not the case, and it is possible to resolve this puzzle without inventing new physics. It is shown that this decoherence is due to the measurement processes which are less than complete.
If we reduce coherence in a given quantum system, the result is an increase in entropy. Does this necessarily convert this quantum system into a classical system? The answer to this question is No. The decrease of coherence means more uncertainty. This does not seem to make the system closer to classical system where there are no uncertainties. We examine the problem using two coupled harmonic oscillators where we make observations on one of them while the other oscillator is assumed to be unobservable or to be in Feynman’s rest of the universe. Our ignorance about the rest of the universe causes an increase in entropy. However, does the system act like a classical system? The answer is again No. When and how does this system appear like a classical system? It is shown that this paradox can be resolved only if measurements are taken along the normal coordinates. It is also shown that Feynman’s parton picture is one concrete physical example of this decoherence mechanism.
If we reduce coherence in a given quantum system, the result is an increase in entropy. Does this necessarily convert this quantum system into a classical system? The answer to this question is No. The decrease of coherence means more uncertainty. This does not seem to make the system closer to classical system where there are no uncertainties. We examine the problem using two coupled harmonic oscillators where we make observations on one of them while the other oscillator is assumed to be unobservable or to be in Feynman's rest of the universe. Our ignorance about the rest of the universe causes an increase in entropy. However, does the system act like a classical system? The answer is again No. When and how does this system appear like a classical system? It is shown that this paradox can be resolved only if measurements are taken along the normal coordinates. It is also shown that Feynman's parton picture is one concrete physical example of this decoherence mechanism.
Two coupled oscillators provide a mathematical instrument for solving many problems in modern physics, including squeezed states of light and Lorentz transformations of quantum bound states. The concept of entanglement can also be studied within this mathematical framework. For the system of two entangled photons, it is of interest to study what happens to the remaining photon if the other photon is not observed. It is pointed out that this problem is an issue of Feynman's rest of the universe. For quantum bound-state problems, it is pointed out the longitudinal and time-like coordinates become entangled when the system becomes boosted. Since time-like oscillations are not observed, the problem is exactly like the two-photon system where one of the photons is not observed. While the hadron is a quantum bound state of quarks, it appears quite differently when it moves rapidly than when it moves slowly. For slow hadrons, Gell-Mann's quark model is applicable, while Feynman's parton model is applicable to hadrons with their speeds close to that of light. While observing the temperature dependence of the speed, it is possible to explain the quark-to-parton transition as a phase transition.
Abstract The quantum theory of decoherence plays an important role in a pragmatist interpretation of quantum theory. It governs the descriptive content of claims about values of physical magnitudes and offers advice on when to use quantum probabilities as a guide to their truth. The content of a claim is to be understood in terms of its role in inference. This promises a better treatment of meaning than that offered by Bohr. Quantum theory models physical systems with no mention of measurement: it is decoherence, not measurement, that licenses application of Born’s probability rule. So, quantum theory also offers advice on its own application. After presenting a simple model of decoherence to show how this works, the essay considers applications to both laboratory experiments and natural systems. Applications to quantum field theory and the measurement problem will be discussed in later essays.
It is known that two coupled harmonic oscillators can support the symmetry group as rich as O(3,3) which corresponds to the Lorentz group applicable to three space-like and three time-like coordinates. This group contains many subgroups, including O(3), O(3,2), O(2,1) which are already familiar to us. In this report, we discuss the symmetry of O(1,1) which plays pivotal roles in quantum optics and particle physics. For this one-parameter group, a full-fledged group theory is not necessary, and we can start the discussion from the Hamiltonian of the coupled oscillator system. It is shown first that, from the group theoretical point of view, the squeeze state of light is a representation of this O(1,1) group. It is then shown that the same mathematical device supports three seemingly different ideas of Feynman, namely the parton model, the relativistic quark model for hadrons, and the ``rest of the universe'' in connection with the density matrix. If these three theories are combined, they produce a covariant picture of Feynman's parton model with a built-in decoherence mechanism.