Can Environmental Decoherence be Reversed for an Open Quantum System in a Magnetic field ?

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether environmental decoherence in an open quantum system can be reversed using a three-way interaction involving the system, bath, and magnetic field, with potential implications for quantum coherence in biological origins.

Contribution

It introduces a model showing that a three-way interaction can reverse environmental decoherence, a novel mechanism not previously demonstrated.

Findings

Three-way interaction can reverse decoherence sign.

Decoherence typically positive for two-way couplings.

Implications for quantum coherence in biological systems.

Abstract

A simple model is considered for an open system consisting of an aggregation of magnetic particles (like greigite) in the presence of a magnetic field (H), and interacting linearly with a bath of 3D harmonic oscillators. Using the Feynman-Vernon formalism, as given in Weiss (termed FVW), the time-evolved reduced density matrix (after eliminating the bath d.o.f.'s), is examined for environmental decoherence as defined in the FVW formalism. While decoherence is usually positive for most two-way couplings with the enviroment, it is found that a $three-way$ interaction involving the system plus bath plus H-field all together, can facilitate a $reversal$ of sign of this quantity! This may have implications for quantum coherence based phenomena on the origins of life.