Dynamic Rules for Decoherence

Abstract

In orthodox quantum theory, decoherence is presumed to be caused by observation. In this paper, the idea of replacing observation, as the cause of decoherence, with rules derived from the dynamics of the system is addressed. Such rules determine the timing of decoherence and the states in the mixture afterward. For instance, energy conservation during decohenence, for each possible transition, leads to a timing rule. Exponetial decay and ergodic behavior follow directly from the dynamic rules as do Boltzman's postulate of equally probable micro-states and the Pauli rate equations. Ergodic behavior in mesoscopic systems is predicted and those preditions are strikingly similar to behavior observed in at least two laboratories.