Quantum decoherence explains loss of coherence in systems from "summary" of The Principles of Quantum Mechanics by P. A. M. Dirac
Quantum mechanics deals with systems in which the state is described by a wave function, and the laws for the calculation of observable quantities are given in terms of this wave function. One important feature of these systems is that the wave function can interact with other systems, such as a measuring instrument, or with the environment. When such an interaction takes place, the different parts of the system become correlated, and the state of the system is described by a new wave function that takes into account the correlations between the different parts. In some cases, the interaction between the system and its environment can lead to the loss of coherence in the system. This means that the different parts of the system are no longer correlated in a way that is described by a single wave function. Instead, the correlations between the different parts of the system are lost, and the different parts of the system are described by separate wave functions. This loss of coherence is known as quantum decoherence. Quantum decoherence is a consequence of the fact that the wave function of a system is not only affected by the interactions within the system, but also by the interactions between the system and its environment. These interactions can cause the different parts of the system to become entangled with the environment, leading to the loss of coherence in the system. The loss of coherence in a system can have important consequences for the predictions of quantum mechanics. For example, the interference patterns that are observed in experiments such as the double-slit experiment are a consequence of the coherence of the system. When the coherence is lost due to quantum decoherence, these interference patterns disappear, and the system behaves in a way that is more consistent with classical physics. In summary, quantum decoherence is a phenomenon that explains the loss of coherence in systems when they interact with their environment. This loss of coherence is a consequence of the interactions between the system and its environment, which can cause the different parts of the system to become entangled with the environment, leading to the loss of correlations described by a single wave function.
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