Universality of decoherence for macroscopic quantum superpositions

Abstract

We consider environment induced decoherence of quantum superpositions to mixtures in the limit in which that process is much faster than any competing one generated by the Hamiltonian [Formula Presented] of the isolated system. This interaction-dominated decoherence limit is of importance for the emergence of classical behavior in the macroscopic domain, since it will always be the relevant regime for large enough separations between the superposed wave packets. The usual golden-rule treatment then does not apply, but we can employ a short-time expansion for the free motion while keeping the interaction [Formula Presented] in full. We thus reveal decoherence as a universal short-time phenomenon largely independent of the character of the system as well as the bath and of the basis the superimposed states are taken from. Simple analytical expressions for the decoherence time scales are obtained in the limit in which decoherence is even faster than any time scale emerging from the reservoir Hamiltonian [Formula Presented]. © 2003 The American Physical Society.