Metastable decoherence-free subspace and pointer states in mesoscopic quantum systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how mesoscopic quantum systems can exhibit a decoherence-free subspace and metastable pointer states, with decoherence suppression depending on photon number, revealing new insights into quantum-to-classical transition dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of metastable decoherence-free subspaces and pointer states in mesoscopic systems, highlighting conditions for decoherence suppression based on photon number.

Findings

Decoherence can be suppressed in mesoscopic regimes.

A time-independent quantum state indicates a decoherence-free subspace.

Metastable pointer states emerge during the decoherence process.

Abstract

Two initially correlated coherent states, each interacting with its own independent dissipative environment exhibit a sudden transition from classical to quantum decoherence. This change in the dynamics is a turning point in the decoherence, in the sense that depending on the average number of photons of each cavity, decoherence can even be suppressed. Indeed, the quantum state is time-independent for a time span in the mesoscopic regime, revealing a decoherence-free subspace. Furthermore, the absence of decoherence is manifested in the apparition of a metastable pointer state basis.