What does "decoherence" mean?
Loss of quantum coherence (phase relation between the quantum states of particles) in a physical system as it interacts with its environment.
Decoherence
/diːkəʊˈhɪəɹəns/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Loss of quantum coherence (phase relation between the quantum states of particles) in a physical system as it interacts with its environment.
- Grammar: decoherence is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: argument drift, coherence breakdown, coherence loss, logical breakdown.
- Useful contrasts: clarity, coherence, coherence length.
- Usage evidence: There is a sense in which simple interference effects are destroyed when a system's environment becomes correlated with its state. This phenomenon is called decoherence. I shall consider three approaches here. According to one, decoherence alone explains why we get determinate records. According to another, decoherence helps one to formulate a satisfactory interpretation of Everett by selecting a globally preferred basis that makes the right physical facts determinate in each Everett branch. According to a third, decoherence sects a locally preferred basis for each observer that makes the right physical facts determinate from the perspective of that particular observer.
How to use "decoherence"
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 Loss of quantum coherence (phase relation between the quantum states of particles) in a physical system as it interacts with its environment. countable, uncountable
"There is a sense in which simple interference effects are destroyed when a system's environment becomes correlated with its state. This phenomenon is called decoherence. I shall consider three approaches here. According to one, decoherence alone explains why we get determinate records. According to another, decoherence helps one to formulate a satisfactory interpretation of Everett by selecting a globally preferred basis that makes the right physical facts determinate in each Everett branch. According to a third, decoherence sects a locally preferred basis for each observer that makes the right physical facts determinate from the perspective of that particular observer."
- 2 The normal condition of sensitiveness in a coherer; reversion to such condition. countable, dated, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonyms argument driftcoherence breakdowncoherence losslogical breakdownloss of coherencequantum to classical transition
Antonyms
Example
"There is a sense in which simple interference effects are destroyed when a system's environment becomes correlated with its state. This phenomenon is called decoherence. I shall consider three approaches here. According to one, decoherence alone explains why we get determinate records. According to another, decoherence helps one to formulate a satisfactory interpretation of Everett by selecting a globally preferred basis that makes the right physical facts determinate in each Everett branch. According to a third, decoherence sects a locally preferred basis for each observer that makes the right physical facts determinate from the perspective of that particular observer."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "decoherence"?
Common synonyms include: argument drift, coherence breakdown, coherence loss, logical breakdown, loss of coherence, quantum to classical transition.
How do you use "decoherence" in a sentence?
There is a sense in which simple interference effects are destroyed when a system's environment becomes correlated with its state. This phenomenon is called decoherence. I shall consider three approaches here. According to one, decoherence alone explains why we get determinate records. According to another, decoherence helps one to formulate a satisfactory interpretation of Everett by selecting a globally preferred basis that makes the right physical facts determinate in each Everett branch. According to a third, decoherence sects a locally preferred basis for each observer that makes the right physical facts determinate from the perspective of that particular observer.
How do you pronounce "decoherence"?
Pronounced /diːkəʊˈhɪəɹəns/.
Etymology
First attested 1902 (OED) in the electrical engineering sense "the resetting of a coherer." From decohere (also 1902) + -ence, representing the verbal noun (compare decohesion, decoherency). The quantum mechanics concept was introduced in 1970 by German physicist H. Dieter Zeh, writing in the journal Foundations of Physics.