Decoherence, entanglement, and information in the electron double-slit experiment with monitoring

TL;DR

This paper presents a quantum mechanical model of the electron double-slit experiment with path monitoring via Coulomb scattering, illustrating how measurement-induced entanglement causes decoherence and affects interference visibility.

Contribution

It introduces a simple theoretical model connecting Coulomb scattering-based monitoring to decoherence and entanglement in the double-slit experiment, inspired by recent experimental work.

Findings

Monitoring causes entanglement and reduces interference visibility.

Tradeoff between measurement information and coherence loss.

Model provides educational insight into quantum decoherence and entanglement.

Abstract

This paper considers a theoretical model of the double-slit experiment with electrons whose paths are monitored. This monitoring, inspired by a recent text by Maudlin, is performed by the Coulomb scattering of the electron by a proton. A simple quantum mechanical calculation is presented, inspired in part by a recent experimental demonstration of this famous thought experiment. The results illustrate the relationship between entanglement and the loss of coherence in the interference pattern. The tradeoff between the visibility of interference and the information gained by measurement is also explored. This calculation can provide advanced undergraduates insight into decoherence, entanglement, and quantum information.