Implications of the intrinsic decoherence in quantum mechanics to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physical Review A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.54.1124· OSTI ID:286599

Rajagopal, A K ^[1]

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1. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375 (United States)

The discrete-time jump model for intrinsic decoherence in quantum mechanics proposed recently by Milburn is here generalized to explicitly time-dependent Hamiltonians. In this model, a time-dependent entropy is obtained and thus it admits of an interpretation that this is a model for an open system. Unlike in the Milburn model, we introduce a minimum uncertainty phase change dictated by the minimum {open_quote}{open_quote}time-energy uncertainty product{close_quote}{close_quote} to define the shortest time scale in the system. Implications of this model to quantum nanometric devices such as quantum dots or resonant tunneling devices are indicated. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 286599
• Journal Information: Physical Review A, Vol. 54, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION
STATISTICAL MECHANICS
ENTROPY
DENSITY MATRIX
UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE
QUANTUM DOTS
NANOSTRUCTURES
QUANTUM WELLS