Effect of decoherence on the probability of finding the quantum harmonic oscillator in the classically forbidden region

Abstract

Research on the impact of decoherence suggests that its effect on tunneling probability varies depending on the specific characteristics of the potential in which a particle is subject to, highlighting the complexity of quantum interactions in different environmental settings. Thus, this study attempts to explore this relationship further. The study focuses on investigating the effect of quantum decoherence on the tunneling probability of the quantum harmonic oscillator (QHO) interacting with an environment of particles in a one-dimensional real line. When the environment is initially in a Gaussian wave packet state, the decoherence factors decay asymptotically. On the other hand, the decoherence is induced exactly when the environment is prepared in a momentum-limited state. In both cases, the probability of finding the QHO in the classical forbidden region decays to a minimum nonzero value. These results imply that tunneling is still possible in the presence of decoherence.