Using the Kapitza-Dirac effect to test quantum dissipation theory.*

Decoherence can be provided by a dissipative environment as described by the Caldeira–Leggett equation [1]. This equation is foundational to the theory of quantum dissipation. However, no experimental test has been performed that measures for one physical system both the dissipation and the decoherence. Anglin and Zurek predicted that a resistive surface could provide such a dissipative environment for a free electron wave passing close to it. Hasselbach’s group found that such a system decreased the interference contrast for an electron interferometer [2]. We found earlier that for electron diffraction form a nanograting, the electron-surface system did not exhibit the level of decoherence one would expect. [3]. Ultimately, it is required to measure both dissipation and decoherence. We show by simulation that this requirement can be met and that the electron wave’s coherence and energy loss can be measured simultaneously by using Kapitza–Dirac scattering for varying light intensity [4].

[1] A. Caldeira and A. Leggett, Annals of Physics 149, 374 (1983).

[2] P. Sonnentag and F. Hasselbach, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 200402 (2007).

[3] P. J. Beierle, L. Zhang, and H. Batelaan, New J. Phys. 20, 113030 (2018); Z. Chen and H. Batelaan, Europhys. Lett. 129, 40004 (2020). 

[4] Raul Puente, Zilin Chen and Herman Batelaan. New J. Phys. 24 063033 (2022).