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:quant-ph/0311020 · Physical Review A

Effect of an external field on decoherence

Robert F. O’Connell, Jian‐Min Zuo

Published Jun 26, 2003• 15 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

``Decoherence of quantum superpositions through coupling to engineered reservoirs'' is the topic of a recent paper by Myatt et al. [Nature 403, 269 (2000)] which has attracted much interest because of its relevance to current research in fundamental quantum theory, quantum computation, teleportation, entanglement, and the quantum-classical interface. However, the preponderance of theoretical work on decoherence does not consider the effect of an external field. Here, we present an analysis of such an effect in the case of the random $\ensuremath{\delta}$-correlated force discussed by Myatt et al.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.67.062107

Related papers

Effect of an external field on decoherence: Part II

Jian‐Min Zuo, Robert F. O’Connell

A previous paper analysed the experimental results of Myatt et al. [Nature, 403, 269 (2000)] on the decoherence of superposition states of Be ions confined in a harmonic potential by a linear Paul trap and subject to a random external electric field. Based on a rigorous derivation in the absence of an external force which had previously been obtained, a heuristic approach to the problem was presented. Whereas this approach was simple and physically appealing, a more rigorous analysis is clearly desirable, which is the content of this paper. It also makes clear that, for the case of a random force, decoherence is intrinsic to quantum mechanics and does not require a dissipative environment.

Journal of Modern Optics•Apr 1, 2004•7 citations

Effects of an External Field and Dissipation on Decoherence

Zuo, Jian

Decoherence is the suppression of the interference of quantum states. It plays important roles in the study of the quantum-classical transition. It is also the major obstacle in the implementation of various schemes of quantum computers. Decoherence can be affected by many factors. The interactions between quantum systems of interest and dissipative environments cause the extensively studied environment-induced-decoherence. Decoherence can also occur as the result of a temperature effect. A recent experiment investigated the engineering of decoherence, which involves applying an external field to the quantum system. In this thesis, we study the effect of an external field on decoherence in the case of a harmonic oscillator coupled to a heat bath by calculating its contribution to the attenuation coefficient, which is a measure of decoherence in coordinate space and involves directly observable probability distributions. It is found that, while non-random external force does not result in decoherence, a random external force can lead to intrinsic decoherence that does not require a dissipative environment. The attenuation coefficient for a free harmonic oscillator in a dissipative environment is also calculated using the solution of the initial value quantum Langevin equation. One of the key results obtained is that ”decoherence without dissipation” does not occur in the case of a free harmonic oscillator, in contrast to the case of a free particle.

Civil War Book Review•Apr 20, 2006•0 citations

The Dynamic Effect of Quantum Decoherence

Leonid V. Il'ichov

An effective force induced by spatially depending decoherence is predicted. The phenomenon is illustrated by a simple model of a 1/2-spin particle subjected to distributed unselective measurement of noncommuting spin components.

arXiv:quant-ph/9904061•Apr 15, 1999•0 citations

Effect of the time-dependent coupling on a superconducting qubit-field system under decoherence: Entanglement and Wehrl entropy

S. Abdel‐Khalek, K. Berrada, Hichem Eleuch

Annals of Physics•Jul 8, 2015•22 citations

Wave packet spreading: Temperature and squeezing effects with applications to quantum measurement and decoherence

G. W. Ford, Robert F. O’Connell

A localized free particle is represented by a wave packet and its motion is discussed in most quantum mechanics textbooks. Implicit in these discussions is the assumption of zero temperature. We discuss how the effects of finite temperature and squeezing can be incorporated in an elementary manner. The results show how the introduction of simple tools and ideas can bring the reader into contact with topics at the frontiers of research in quantum mechanics. We discuss the standard quantum limit, which is of interest in the measurement of small forces, and decoherence of a mixed (“Schrödinger cat”) state, which has implications for current research in quantum computation, entanglement, and the quantum-classical interface.

arXiv:quant-ph/0301057•American Journal of Physics•Mar 1, 2002•43 citations

Decoherence of a quantum magneto-oscillator: Effect of field-bath interaction

Koushik Mandal, Suraka Bhattacharjee, Supurna Sinha

We investigate the quantum dissipative dynamics of a charged magneto-oscillator(CMO) coupled to a heat bath of harmonic oscillators in the presence of an additional field-bath interaction. The problem is formulated within the framework of the generalized quantum Langevin equation, where the external confining potential modifies the random force correlations and the memory kernel of the environment, and the effective spring constant. Using the corresponding non-Markovian master equation, we examine the influence of the field-bath coupling on the temporal decay of the reduced density matrix of the system. We show that the additional interaction leads to an enhancement of the decoherence rate by altering the dissipative response of the bath. Thus our results shed light on the role of field-bath coupling in the quantum to classical transition of a CMO. The resulting fluctuation-dissipation relation is analyzed, and the position autocorrelation, position-velocity correlation and velocity autocorrelation are obtained explicitly. The dependence of these experimentally accessible quantities on the field-bath coupling parameter is discussed. We outline an experimental proposal for testing our theoretical predictions. The study sheds light on reservoir engineering which is central to quantum technologies.

quant-pharXiv:2607.11137•Jul 14, 2026•0 citations
``Decoherence of quantum superpositions through coupling to engineered reservoirs'' is the topic of a recent paper by Myatt et al. [Nature 403, 269 (2000)] which has attracted much interest because of its relevance to current research in fundamental quantum theory, quantum computation, teleportation, entanglement, and the quantum-classical interface. However, the preponderance of theoretical work on decoherence does not consider the effect of an external field. Here, we present an analysis of such an effect in the case of the random \ensuremathδ\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremathδ-correlated force discussed by Myatt et al.
A previous paper analysed the experimental results of Myatt et al. [Nature, 403, 269 (2000)] on the decoherence of superposition states of Be ions confined in a harmonic potential by a linear Paul trap and subject to a random external electric field. Based on a rigorous derivation in the absence of an external force which had previously been obtained, a heuristic approach to the problem was presented. Whereas this approach was simple and physically appealing, a more rigorous analysis is clearly desirable, which is the content of this paper. It also makes clear that, for the case of a random force, decoherence is intrinsic to quantum mechanics and does not require a dissipative environment.
Decoherence is the suppression of the interference of quantum states. It plays important roles in the study of the quantum-classical transition. It is also the major obstacle in the implementation of various schemes of quantum computers. Decoherence can be affected by many factors. The interactions between quantum systems of interest and dissipative environments cause the extensively studied environment-induced-decoherence. Decoherence can also occur as the result of a temperature effect. A recent experiment investigated the engineering of decoherence, which involves applying an external field to the quantum system. In this thesis, we study the effect of an external field on decoherence in the case of a harmonic oscillator coupled to a heat bath by calculating its contribution to the attenuation coefficient, which is a measure of decoherence in coordinate space and involves directly observable probability distributions. It is found that, while non-random external force does not result in decoherence, a random external force can lead to intrinsic decoherence that does not require a dissipative environment. The attenuation coefficient for a free harmonic oscillator in a dissipative environment is also calculated using the solution of the initial value quantum Langevin equation. One of the key results obtained is that ”decoherence without dissipation” does not occur in the case of a free harmonic oscillator, in contrast to the case of a free particle.
A localized free particle is represented by a wave packet and its motion is discussed in most quantum mechanics textbooks. Implicit in these discussions is the assumption of zero temperature. We discuss how the effects of finite temperature and squeezing can be incorporated in an elementary manner. The results show how the introduction of simple tools and ideas can bring the reader into contact with topics at the frontiers of research in quantum mechanics. We discuss the standard quantum limit, which is of interest in the measurement of small forces, and decoherence of a mixed (“Schrödinger cat”) state, which has implications for current research in quantum computation, entanglement, and the quantum-classical interface.
We investigate the quantum dissipative dynamics of a charged magneto-oscillator(CMO) coupled to a heat bath of harmonic oscillators in the presence of an additional field-bath interaction. The problem is formulated within the framework of the generalized quantum Langevin equation, where the external confining potential modifies the random force correlations and the memory kernel of the environment, and the effective spring constant. Using the corresponding non-Markovian master equation, we examine the influence of the field-bath coupling on the temporal decay of the reduced density matrix of the system. We show that the additional interaction leads to an enhancement of the decoherence rate by altering the dissipative response of the bath. Thus our results shed light on the role of field-bath coupling in the quantum to classical transition of a CMO. The resulting fluctuation-dissipation relation is analyzed, and the position autocorrelation, position-velocity correlation and velocity autocorrelation are obtained explicitly. The dependence of these experimentally accessible quantities on the field-bath coupling parameter is discussed. We outline an experimental proposal for testing our theoretical predictions. The study sheds light on reservoir engineering which is central to quantum technologies.