Coherence dynamics in low-energy nuclear fusion
arXiv:2201.02232 · doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2022.136970
Abstract
Low-energy nuclear fusion reactions have been described using a dynamical coupled-channels density matrix method, based on the theory of open quantum systems. For the first time, this has been combined with an energy projection method, permitting the calculation of energy resolved fusion probabilities. The results are benchmarked against calculations using stationary Schrödinger dynamics and show excellent agreement. Calculations of entropy, energy dissipation and coherence were conducted, demonstrating the capability of this method. It is evident that the presence of quantum decoherence does not affect fusion probability. This framework provides a basis for quantum thermodynamic studies using thermal environments.
Submitted to Physics Letters B on 5th January 2022
References in corpus (5)
- Subbarrier fusion reactions and many-particle quantum tunneling
- Theory of nuclear excitation by electron capture for heavy ions
- Dissipative quantum dynamics in low-energy collisions of complex nuclei
- Coupled-channels density-matrix approach to low-energy nuclear collision dynamics: A technique for quantifying quantum decoherence effects on reaction observables
- Tracing the dynamical interplay of low-energy reaction processes of exotic nuclei using a two-center molecular continuum