Quantum-Classical Transition Induced by Electrical Measurement

Abstract

A model of an electrical tunnel junction coupled to a mechanical system (oscillator) is studied to simulate the dephasing effect of measurement on a quantum system. The problem is solved at zero temperature under conditions of strong nonequilibrium in the measurement apparatus. For linear coupling between the oscillator and tunneling electrons, it is found that the oscillator dynamics becomes damped, with the effective temperature determined by the voltage drop across the junction. It is demonstrated that both the quantum heating and the quantum damping of the oscillator manifest themselves in the current-voltage characteristic of the tunnel junction.