Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical

Dephasing of a particle in a dissipative environment

Doron Cohen and Baruch Horovitz



Abstract

The motion of a particle in a ring of length L is influenced by a dirty metal environment whose fluctuations are characterized by a short correlation distance ell Lt L. We analyze the induced decoherence process, and compare the results with those obtained in the opposing Caldeira–Leggett limit (ell Gt L). A proper definition of the dephasing factor that does not depend on a vague semiclassical picture is employed. Some recent Monte Carlo results about the effect of finite temperatures on 'mass renormalization' in this system are illuminated.


Dates: Issue 41 (12 October 2007)   
           Received 7 August 2007 , in final form 4 September 2007    Published 25 September 2007

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