Free evolution of an incoherent mixture of states: a quantum mechanical approach to the van Cittert–Zernike theorem

Fabre, I. and Navarrete, F. and Sarkadi, L. and Barrachina, R. O. (2018) Free evolution of an incoherent mixture of states: a quantum mechanical approach to the van Cittert–Zernike theorem. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 39 (1). pp. 1-11. ISSN 0143-0807

Text Eur._J._Phys._39_015401.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (382kB)

Abstract

We study the time evolution of an incoherent mixture of quantum states and demonstrate, in very simple terms, a quantum mechanical equivalent of van Cittert–Zernike theorem, which can be easily explained to Quantum Physics students with a basic knowledge of the density matrix theory. Finally, we exemplify this result by applying it to the quantitative analysis of the coherence of a beam of particles in atomic collisions.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item