Double-slit interference with charged particles: density matrices and decoherence from time-dependent quantum Monte Carlo

Abstract

In this paper we apply the time-dependent quantum Monte Carlo (TDQMC) method to explore a modified single- and double-slit diffraction of matter waves. By using a simplified model of two electrons prepared in the ground state of an atom (molecule) and then suddenly released we are able to calculate the diffraction patterns in one spatial dimension in close correspondence with the numerically exact results. Through the Coulomb repulsion the one electron serves as an environment for the other, thus introducing decoherence in the quantum state which is easily quantified. It is demonstrated that the set of single particle wave functions yield by TDQMC can be used to directly construct a density matrix for that particle without tracing out the other constituents from the density matrix of the whole system. In this way it is possible to build explicitly time-dependent density matrices for different components of a complex quantum system straight within the TDQMC algorithm which may widen our understanding of quantum dynamics in many-body systems.