Intrinsic decoherence in the atom-field interaction

Abstract

Milburn has recently proposed [Phys. Rev. A 44, 5401 (1991)] a variation of the Schrödinger equation which models decoherence as the system evolves through intrinsic mechanisms beyond conventional quantum mechanics rather than dissipative interaction with an environment. In this paper we give an exact solution of this equation and apply it to the Jaynes-Cummings model of atom-field interaction with nontrivial dynamics. We show that the intrinsic decoherence is responsible for deterioration of quantum coherence effects in this model, such as revivals of the atomic inversion. We discuss the applicability of the Milburn equation.