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Classicality with(out) decoherence: Concepts, relation to Markovianity, and a random matrix theory approach
by Philipp Strasberg
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Submission summary
| Ontological classification |
| Academic field: |
Physics |
| Specialties: |
- Condensed Matter Physics - Theory
- Quantum Physics
- Statistical and Soft Matter Physics
|
| Approach: |
Theoretical |
Abstract
Answers to the question how a classical world emerges from underlying quantum physics are revisited, connected and extended as follows. First, three distinct concepts are compared: decoherence in open quantum systems, consistent/decoherent histories and Kolmogorov consistency. Second, the crucial role of quantum Markovianity (defined rigorously) to connect these concepts is established. Third, using a random matrix theory model, quantum effects are shown to be exponentially suppressed in the measurement statistics of slow and coarse observables despite the presence of large amount of coherences. This is also numerically exemplified, and it highlights the potential and importance of non-integrability and chaos for the emergence of classicality.
List of changes
I followed all the helpful recommendations of Referee 1 (except point 7), and I further included some minor modifications and some additional references due to private correspondences with colleagues. Since the modifications are minor reformulations, and none impacts the validity of the core scientific statements in the manuscript, I refrain from listing them here in detail.
