Title
Free electron motion in an electromagnetic field at zero temperature and the dependence on its rest mass
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2007
Abstract
Efforts to achieve quantum computation, teleportation, and communication depend on minimizing decoherence, which is the destruction of a quantum interference pattern. Here, we examine effects arising from the universal zero-point (temperature T = 0) oscillations of the electromagnetic field on a free electron in a Schrödinger cat superposition state. A unique conclusion is that the spreading of an electron wavepacket and the rate of decay of decoherence depend on the bare mass m of the electron. However, only for m = 0 does decoherence occur and the fact that it occurs almost instantly is ruled out by electron interference experiments. For m = 0, the electron essentially behaves as a free particle. © Nauka/Interperiodica 2007.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Laser Physics
First Page
302
Last Page
304
Recommended Citation
Ford, G., & O'Connell, R. (2007). Free electron motion in an electromagnetic field at zero temperature and the dependence on its rest mass. Laser Physics, 17 (4), 302-304. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1054660X07040020