Quantum Decoherence

Superposition → Classical Mixture

Decoherence occurs when a quantum system interacts with its environment, causing the off-diagonal elements of the density matrix to decay: ρ01(t) = ρ01(0)·e−Γt. The Bloch vector shrinks from the surface toward the interior, visualizing the transition from pure state to mixed state. This is why we don't see quantum superpositions at macroscopic scales.

Γ = 0.30
T₁ = 5.0
θ = 90°
φ = 45°
|Bloch r|:1.000
Purity Tr(ρ²):1.000
von Neumann S:0.000
|ρ₀₁| (coherence):0.500
Time t:0.00
Density matrix ρ
ρ₀₀
ρ₀₁
ρ₁₀
ρ₁₁