Decoherence and noise in open quantum system dynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum noise and decoherence arise in open quantum systems, emphasizing the role of environmental quantum correlations and stochastic dynamics within the Copenhagen interpretation.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of quantum noise and decoherence using a master equation approach, highlighting the importance of environmental quantum correlations.

Findings

Decoherence emerges naturally from environmental interactions.

Quantum correlation functions influence the nature of quantum noise.

Stochastic quantum dynamics can be derived from averaging over environmental degrees of freedom.

Abstract

We consider the description of quantum noise within the framework of the standard Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics applied to a composite system environment setting. Averaging over the environmental degrees of freedom leads to a stochastic quantum dynamics, described by equations complying with the constraints arising from the statistical structure of quantum mechanics. Simple examples are considered in the framework of open system dynamics described within a master equation approach, pointing in particular to the appearance of the phenomenon of decoherence and to the relevance of quantum correlation functions of the environment in the determination of the action of quantum noise.