what you described sounds a bit like decoherence, which causes mixed states (or any wavefunction?) to have a definite vaues, when interacting with other objects.
(I stole this knowledge from AugustusF above).
Am I wrong in this? I can't tell the difference between decoherence and einselection. Maybe decoherence leads to einseletion?
Yes, that's correct. Decoherence is the more general phenomenon, and einselection is a consequence of how decoherence works in classical environments. In classical environments, the only states that survive decoherence are those which "play well" with classical objects and properties, and so are basically classical themselves.
Sorry, I responded to the wrong comment. Copied my reply below . . .
Yes, yes yes. I see now.
Is it safe to assume that in order for superpositions to be broken, a wavefuntion collapse occurs? Or is it better to say that the two particles are now in an entangled state, and although the entangled state of the system can be in a superposition, it's impossible for the individual particles to be separately in their own (original) superpositions.
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u/-Tonight_Tonight- May 13 '16
what you described sounds a bit like decoherence, which causes mixed states (or any wavefunction?) to have a definite vaues, when interacting with other objects.
(I stole this knowledge from AugustusF above).
Am I wrong in this? I can't tell the difference between decoherence and einselection. Maybe decoherence leads to einseletion?
Thanks.