Quantum Decoherence in a D-Foam Background

TL;DR

This paper models quantum D-brane fluctuations within Liouville string theory, demonstrating how such foam-like structures induce quantum decoherence effects on light closed-string states in a way consistent with prior estimates.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model of D-brane foam using monopole and vortex defects, employing T-duality to connect different boundary conditions, and derives an open quantum-mechanical description.

Findings

Quantum decoherence rate aligns with previous estimates.

Model captures momentum and energy conservation with small fluctuations.

Provides a framework for understanding quantum decoherence in D-brane backgrounds.

Abstract

Within the general framework of Liouville string theory, we construct a model for quantum D-brane fluctuations in the space-time background through which light closed-string states propagate. The model is based on monopole and vortex defects on the world sheet, which have been discussed previously in a treatment of 1+1-dimensional black-hole fluctuations in the space-time background, and makes use of a T-duality transformation to relate formulations with Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions. In accordance with previous general arguments, we derive an open quantum-mechanical description of this D-brane foam which embodies momentum and energy conservation and small mean energy fluctuations. Quantum decoherence effects appear at a rate consistent with previous estimates.