Breaking time-inversion invariance through decoherence ? Energetic consequences for attosecond neutron scattering

摘要: Nuclei and electrons in condensed matter and/or molecules are usually entangled, due to the prevailing (mainly electromagnetic) interactions. However, "environment" of a microscopic scattering system (e.g. proton) causes ultrafast decoherence, thus making atomic nuclear entanglement effects not directly accessible experiments. our neutron Compton experiments from protons (H-atoms) systems have characteristic collisional time about 100–1000 attoseconds. The quantum dynamics an atom this ultrashort, but finite, window is governed by non-unitary evolution aforementioned decoherence. Unexpectedly, recent theoretical investigations shown that decoherence can also following energetic consequences. Disentangling two subsystems A B AB tantamount erasure phase relations between B. This widely believed be innocuous process, which e.g. does affect energies independent groups proved recently disentangling systems, within sufficiently short interval, increase their energies. derivable simplest Lindblad-type master equation one particle being subject pure Our neutron-proton with H2 provide for first experimental evidence effect. results reveal collision, leading cleavage H-H bond attosecond timescale, accompanied larger energy transfer (by 2–3%) than conventional theory predicts. Preliminary current show qualitatively same effect neutron-deuteron D2 molecules. We interpret findings treating (or neutron-deuteron) as entangled open fast caused its (i.e., plus second nucleus or D2). presented seem generic nature, may considerable consequences various processes molecules, elementary chemical reactions.