Decoherence rate expression due to air molecule scattering in spatial qubits

TL;DR

This paper derives an expression for decoherence rates caused by air molecule scattering in spatial qubits, comparing it with existing models and analyzing implications for macroscopic quantum superpositions in interferometry.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive solution for decoherence due to air molecule scattering, including limits, comparisons, and application to macroscopic superpositions.

Findings

The derived decoherence rate matches known short- and long-wavelength limits.

Comparison with existing models shows improved accuracy.

Analysis of decoherence dynamics during superposition creation and closing.

Abstract

We provide a solution for decoherence in spatial superpositions due to scattering/collision with air molecules. This result reproduces the short- and long-wavelength limits known in the literature. We compare the decoherence rate with several existing interpolations in the literature and evaluate the decoherence rate and experimental parameters when creating macroscopic quantum spatial superpositions (i.e., micron-size spheres). Finally, we consider the decoherence rate's time dependence while creating and closing the spatial superposition in an interferometer setup.