Quantum-classical transition for an analog of the double-slit experiment in complex collisions: Dynamical decoherence in quantum many-body systems

L. Benet*, L. T. Chadderton, S. Yu Kun, Wang Qi

*Corresponding author for this work

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    Abstract

    We study coherent superpositions of clockwise and anticlockwise rotating intermediate complexes with overlapping resonances formed in bimolecular chemical reactions. Disintegration of such complexes represents an analog of a famous double-slit experiment. The time for disappearance of the interference fringes is estimated from heuristic arguments related to fingerprints of chaotic dynamics of a classical counterpart of the coherently rotating complex. Validity of this estimate is confirmed numerically for the H+ D2 chemical reaction. Thus we demonstrate the quantum-classical transition in temporal behavior of highly excited quantum many-body systems in the absence of external noise and coupling to an environment.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number062110
    JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
    Volume75
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2007

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