Decoherent histories and quantum state diffusion

Journal Article · Mon Jan 09 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.203· OSTI ID:6645072

Diosi, L ^[1]; Gisin, N ^[2]; Halliwell, J ^[3]; Percival, I C ^[4]

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1. KFKI Research Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics, H-1525 Budapest 114, POB 49 (Hungary)
2. Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva 4 (Switzerland)
3. Theory Group, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ (United Kingdom)
4. Department of Physics, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS (United Kingdom)

We demonstrate a close connection between the decoherent histories approach to quantum mechanics and the quantum state diffusion picture, for open quantum systems described by a master equation of Lindblad form. The (physically unique) set of variables that localize in the quantum state diffusion picture also define an approximately decoherent set of histories in the decoherent histories approach. The degree of localization is related to the degree of decoherence, and the probabilities for histories prescribed by each approach are essentially the same.

• OSTI ID: 6645072
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 74:2; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661100* -- Classical & Quantum Mechanics-- (1992-)
661300 -- Other Aspects of Physical Science-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DIFFUSION
HAMILTONIANS
LOCALITY
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
MECHANICS
OPEN-CYCLE SYSTEMS
PROBABILITY
QUANTUM MECHANICS
QUANTUM OPERATORS