Coupled-channels density-matrix approach to low-energy nuclear collision dynamics: A technique for quantifying quantum decoherence effects on reaction observables

TL;DR

This paper introduces a density-matrix approach incorporating quantum decoherence effects into low-energy nuclear collision dynamics, enabling quantitative analysis of decoherence's impact on reaction outcomes.

Contribution

It develops a coupled-channels density-matrix method with angular momentum couplings and Lindblad dissipators for nuclear reactions, including formulas for asymptotic observables.

Findings

Demonstrates the method with $^{16}$O + $^{154}$Sm collision model

Provides formulas to detect quantum decoherence effects

Extracts energy-resolved scattering information from density matrices

Abstract

The coupled-channels density-matrix technique for nuclear reaction dynamics, which is based on the Liouville-von Neumann equation with Lindblad dissipative terms, is developed with the inclusion of full angular momentum couplings. It allows a quantitative study of the role and importance of quantum decoherence in nuclear scattering. Formulae of asymptotic observables that can reveal effects of quantum decoherence are given. A method for extracting energy-resolved scattering information from the time-dependent density matrix is introduced. As an example, model calculations are carried out for the low-energy collision of the $^{16}$O projectile on the $^{154}$Sm target.