Quantum coherence enfeebled by classical uncertainties

0537785 - FZÚ 2021 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Barrachina, R.O. - Navarrete, F. - Ciappina, Marcelo F.
Quantum coherence enfeebled by classical uncertainties.
Physical Review Research. Roč. 2, Dec (2020), s. 1-9, č. článku 043353. E-ISSN 2643-1564
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GC20-24805J
Grant - others:U.S. Air Force Project AFOSR(US) FA9550-17-1-0382
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : quantum measurements * quantum-to-classical transition * scattering theory * beam processes
OECD category: Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)
Method of publishing: Open access

The fundamental indication of the departure of quantum mechanics from the classical world is the so-called quantum coherence. Typically, we define it as the characteristic of systems which are in a superposition of states yielding interference patterns in certain kinds of experiments. In addition to its captivating philosophical implications, quantum coherence turned out to be a valuable tool in different areas, ranging from quantum information to biology, where it was used to describe several fundamental processes. Here, we go one step further to study how classical uncertainties in a mixture of similar states reduce quantum coherence in quantum scattering theory. To this end, we deal with different examples, all of them with roots in the widely studied Feynman's two-slit thought experiment. We finally propose an operational and intuitive definition of the concept of coherence length whose implications largely transcend the simplicity of the corresponding mathematical development.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0315623