Renormalization of the dephasing by zero point fluctuations

Abstract

We study the role of zero-point-fluctuations (ZPF) in dephasing at low temperature. Unlike the Caldeira-Leggett model where the interaction is with an homogeneous fluctuating field of force, here we consider the effect of short range scattering by localized bath modes. We find that in presence of ZPF the inelastic cross-section gets renormalized. Thus indirectly ZPF might contribute to the dephasing at low temperature.