Renormalization of the dephasing by zero point fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how zero-point fluctuations influence dephasing at low temperatures, revealing that they can renormalize inelastic scattering cross-sections and potentially contribute to dephasing.

Contribution

It introduces a model considering localized bath modes, differing from the traditional homogeneous field approach, to analyze ZPF effects on dephasing.

Findings

ZPF renormalizes inelastic cross-sections

ZPF may contribute to low-temperature dephasing

Short-range scattering effects are significant

Abstract

We study the role of zero-point-fluctuations (ZPF) in dephasing at low temperature. Unlike the Caldeira-Leggett model where the interaction is with an homogeneous fluctuating field of force, here we consider the effect of short range scattering by localized bath modes. We find that in presence of ZPF the inelastic cross-section gets renormalized. Thus indirectly ZPF might contribute to the dephasing at low temperature.