Collisional decoherence of polar molecules

TL;DR

This paper derives a quantum master equation to describe how collisions with gas atoms cause decoherence in the motion of large, rotating polar molecules, with applications to interference experiments.

Contribution

It introduces an analytic form of the master equation based on scattering cross sections, linking molecular orientation to decoherence effects.

Findings

Quantifies collisional decoherence in polar molecules.

Provides approximate analytic expressions for scattering cross sections.

Applies the model to interference experiments with polar molecules.

Abstract

The quantum state of motion of a large and rotating polar molecule can lose coherence through the collisions with gas atoms. We show how the associated quantum master equation for the center of mass can be expressed in terms of the orientationally averaged differential and total scattering cross sections, for which we provide approximate analytic expressions. The master equation is then utilized to quantify collisional decoherence in a interference experiment with polar molecules.