Mathematical Lectures in Lizzanello

seminar: On the rigorous derivation and computation on quantum decoherence

speaker: Riccardo Adami (Centro di Ricerca Matematica Ennio De Giorgi)

abstract: In recent applications of quantum mechanics (e.g., quantum information), a major role is played by the superposition principle. Roughly speaking, it prescribes that if for a physical system two different states are available, then the system can also lie in both states simultaneously. Taken literally, the superposition principle can lead to puzzling consequences, like for instance the weird fate of the Schroedinger's cat, who is dead and alive at the same time. Nonetheless, In contrast to their theoretical possibility, such states are never observed in the everyday life. The usual physical explanation of this fact is that superposition states are fragile, and can be destroyed even by a weak interaction with the external environment. This mechanism is known as decoherence, and is commonly invoked in order to explain the transition from the quantum to the classical regime. In this talk we show how decoherence emerges and evolves in the dynamics of an electron interacting with a phonon bath. The results were obtained in collaboration with L. Erdos (Munich).

timetable:
Sat 1 Sep, 16:00 - 17:00, Lizzanello
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