INTRINSIC DECOHERENCE IN QUANTUM-MECHANICS

A model for intrinsic decoherence in quantum mechanics is proposed, based on a simple modification of unitary Schrodinger evolution. On sufficiently small time scales the system evolves by a random sequence of unitary phase changes generated by the Hamiltonian. The Schrodinger equation is obtained to zeroth order in the expansion parameter. High-order corrections lead to a loss of coherence in the energy basis. The rate of coherence loss becomes very large as the energy scale of the system is increased. The expansion parameter determines an uncertainty in the time step on very short times scales. A number of testable consequences are derived including anomalous dispersion of a free particle, decay of oscillatory systems, destruction of interference-fringe visibility, and a phase shift of interference fringes.