Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Physics
The Effect Of Damping By An Environment On Emergence Of Classicality, Paul Bracken
The Effect Of Damping By An Environment On Emergence Of Classicality, Paul Bracken
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations
The role of dissipation with respect to a microscopic superposition of quantum states is investigated by means of master equations. This has implications for the study of the emergence of classicality from the quantum level. In particular, it illustrates why it is difficult to observe a macroscopic quantum state. The role of the environment is assumed by the measuring apparatus. A pure state is reduced to a mixture in the pointer basis of the system by means of the interaction with the apparatus. It is the intention that this type of analysis will have applications to experiments which are designed …