Environmentally induced decoherence makes wave function collapse unnecessary. But the environment, usually taken to be some heat bath, introduces a preferred frame. (That in which the total (spatial) momentum vanishes.) So, doesn't then the decoherence time depend on the motion of the prepared state relative to the environment? And, doesn't the ultimate environment, all particles in the universe, introduce a preferred frame into quantum mechanics in the sense that the decoherence time is relative to this frame? And would this be measureable, at least in principle
Environmentally induced decoherence makes wave function collapse unnecessary. But the environment, u
garcialdaria2zky1
2022-05-18
Answered
You can still ask an expert for help
Answers (1)
heilaritikermx
Answered 2022-05-19
Author has 20 answers
"Environmentally induced decoherence makes wave function collapse unnecessary."
- As far as I know, that's still a conjecture. I might be wrong about that, though.
"But the environment, usually taken to be some heat bath, introduces a preferred frame. (That in which the total (spatial) momentum vanishes.)"
- It's the rest frame of the system + reservoir, but it is not "preferred" in the sense that it violates Lorentz invariance.
"So, doesn't then the decoherence time depend on the motion of the prepared state relative to the environment?"
- Only the part of the environment that is directly interacting with your system. If your reservoir is a collection of matter interacting with the system by the exchange of blackbody radiation photons, then the decoherence time will depend on how often the system interacts with one of those photons.
"And, doesn't the ultimate environment, all particles in the universe,"
- What make you think that the universe is finite?
"introduce a preferred frame into quantum mechanics in the sense that the decoherence time is relative to this frame?"
- All decoherence times can be calculated from the decoherence times of the same system in any other inertial frame. The rest frame of the observable universe is in no way "preferred".
"And would this be measureable, at least in principle?"
- That decoherence is affected by time dilation like everything else? Yes.
- As far as I know, that's still a conjecture. I might be wrong about that, though.
"But the environment, usually taken to be some heat bath, introduces a preferred frame. (That in which the total (spatial) momentum vanishes.)"
- It's the rest frame of the system + reservoir, but it is not "preferred" in the sense that it violates Lorentz invariance.
"So, doesn't then the decoherence time depend on the motion of the prepared state relative to the environment?"
- Only the part of the environment that is directly interacting with your system. If your reservoir is a collection of matter interacting with the system by the exchange of blackbody radiation photons, then the decoherence time will depend on how often the system interacts with one of those photons.
"And, doesn't the ultimate environment, all particles in the universe,"
- What make you think that the universe is finite?
"introduce a preferred frame into quantum mechanics in the sense that the decoherence time is relative to this frame?"
- All decoherence times can be calculated from the decoherence times of the same system in any other inertial frame. The rest frame of the observable universe is in no way "preferred".
"And would this be measureable, at least in principle?"
- That decoherence is affected by time dilation like everything else? Yes.
Not exactly what you’re looking for?
This is helpful
You might be interested in
asked 2022-04-26
Can you identify the direction of your movement? Let's say ship moving nose forward, or tail forward? Is there a sense of "direction of movement" in such an inertial frame of reference?
asked 2022-07-16
is space expansion the same as time dilation ?
asked 2022-07-22
When an electron emits a photon from changing energy levels, the frequency of the photon depends on the difference between the energy levels.
But if someone is moving with respect to the atom, the frequency will be apparently red shifted or blue shifted.
Does this mean that the energy levels of the orbits of the atom look to have different values if you are moving with respect to them? But, the apparent energy difference can be different depending on whether the photon is emitted towards you or away from you.
What's going on? Aren't energy levels of orbits supposed to be a fixed value given the kind of atom?
But if someone is moving with respect to the atom, the frequency will be apparently red shifted or blue shifted.
Does this mean that the energy levels of the orbits of the atom look to have different values if you are moving with respect to them? But, the apparent energy difference can be different depending on whether the photon is emitted towards you or away from you.
What's going on? Aren't energy levels of orbits supposed to be a fixed value given the kind of atom?
asked 2022-05-14
If a body is moving with a constant velocity v and an observer on that body observes another body to be at rest then the kinetic energy of is zero. So is energy dependent on the frame of reference if so then how is the conservation of energy stated?
asked 2022-05-08
Suppose we are given a mechanical frame consisting of two points. How can we prove that assuming any initial conditions there is an inertial frame of reference in which these points will be in a static plane?
asked 2022-05-08
A local inertial frame of reference rocks. A little later it is said that Lorentz frames rock. Are they identical or is one a special case of the other?
asked 2022-05-18
It is well known that quantum mechanics and (general) relativity do not fit well. I am wondering whether it is possible to make a list of contradictions or problems between them?
E.g. relativity theory uses a space-time continuum, while quantum theory uses discrete states.
E.g. relativity theory uses a space-time continuum, while quantum theory uses discrete states.
