Environmental Decoherence versus Intrinsic Decoherence

TL;DR

This paper compares environmental and intrinsic decoherence, reviews existing models and experiments, and proposes a new theoretical approach to intrinsic decoherence, especially in the context of gravitational effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework for intrinsic decoherence and discusses its implications for gravitational decoherence, addressing limitations of current models.

Findings

Environmental decoherence models have unresolved questions.

A new theoretical approach to intrinsic decoherence is proposed.

Implications for gravitational decoherence are discussed.

Abstract

We review the difference between standard environmental decoherence and 'intrinsic decoherence', which is taken to be an ineluctable process of Nature. Environmental decoherence is typically modeled by spin bath or oscillator modes - we review some of the unanswered questions not captured by these models, and also the application of them to experiments. Finally, a sketch is given of a new theoretical approach to intrinsic decoherence, and this scheme is applied to the discussion of gravitational decoherence.