Investigating decoherence in a simple system.

Abstract

I present the results of some simple calculations designed to study the loss of quantum coherence. The relevant physical issues are briefly reviewed, and then a very simple toy model is analyzed. Exact solutions are found using numerical techniques. The type of decoherence exhibited by the model can be changed by varying a coupling strength. I study the system from two points of view. One, the Schmidt paths approach, is closely related to the conventional approach of studying decoherence by checking the form of the density matrix. The consistent histories approach is also used, and the relationship between the two approaches is explored.