How Does Environmentally Induced Decoherence Affect Quantum State Reduction?

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Thread starter Feeble Wonk
Start date Aug 21, 2015
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Decoherence

In summary: The unitary dynamic evolution is pure and zero entropy and exact for the composite. The reduced density operator of the system alone is mixed and has higher entropy. The reduced density operator of the environment alone is mixed and has higher entropy. But the total entropy of the composite is zero and this is the only thing that is exact and pure. As to what you are missing, that is subtler but perhaps the following will help. In summary, the concept of spontaneous quantum state reduction through environmentally induced decoherence involves the interaction between a system and its environment, causing the system to become "mixed" and increase in entropy while the composite system remains in a "pure" and zero entropy state.

Apr 19, 2016

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Feeble Wonk said:

[emoji39] You saw that coming a mile away. I've got some more thinking to do, and then I'd like to ask you more about how this relates to the SHV interpretation if that would be OK.

Of course.