Quantum coherence and decoherence of protons and muons in condensed matter |
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Authors: | EB Karlsson |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Physics, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 530, 75121 Uppsala, Sweden, SE |
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Abstract: | The coherence in quantum superposition states of protons (and chemically similar particles, the positive muons) has been studied
in some condensed matter environments. It is shown that if the proton systems and the experimental techniques used to study
them are carefully selected, it is possible to observe quantum delocalization states of single particles and to understand
the mechanisms for their loss of coherence. Quantum correlated two- and multiparticle states of protons lose coherence very
fast when coupled to condensed matter environments, but new sub-femtosecond techniques have made them accessible to experimental
studies. The degree of decoherence can be measured as function of time and the decoherence mechanisms can, at least in certain
cases, be identified. Although less clean than in corresponding studies of quantum optical systems, these studies can be seen
as a first step towards understanding the conditions for preservation of quantum correlation and entanglement in massive systems.
Some consequences and some suggestions for future work are discussed.
Received 28 August 2002 Published online 7 January 2003 |
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Keywords: | PACS 03 65 -w Quantum mechanics – 61 12 -q Neutron diffraction and scattering |
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