Decoherence and the Loschmidt echo.

Decoherence causes entropy increase that can be quantified using, e.g., the purity sigma=Trrho(2). When the Hamiltonian of a quantum system is perturbed, its sensitivity to such perturbation can be measured by the Loschmidt echo M(t). It is given by the squared overlap between the perturbed and unperturbed state. We describe the relation between the temporal behavior of sigma(t) and the average Mmacr;(t). In this way we show that the decay of the Loschmidt echo can be analyzed using tools developed in the study of decoherence. In particular, for systems with a classically chaotic Hamiltonian the decay of sigma and Mmacr; has a regime where it is dominated by the Lyapunov exponents.

Decoherence in a classically chaotic quantum system: entropy production and quantum-classical correspondence.

We study the decoherence process for an open quantum system that is classically chaotic (a quartic double well with harmonic driving coupled to a sea of harmonic oscillators). We carefully analyze the time dependence of the rate of entropy production showing that it has two relevant regimes: For short times it is proportional to the diffusion coefficient (fixed by the system-environment coupling strength); for longer times (but before equilibration) it is fixed by dynamical properties of the system (and is related to the Lyapunov exponent). The nature of the transition time between both regimes is investigated and the issue of quantum to classical correspondence is addressed. Finally, the impact of the interaction with the environment on coherent tunneling is analyzed.